THE  INDUSTRIAL  Hi  STORY 
OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES 


GILLS  B. JACKSON 

i> 
D.WEBSTER  DA 


SCHOOL  EDITION 


Negro  Educational  Association 


THE 

INDUSTRIAL 
HISTORY 

OF    THE 

NEGRO  RACE 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES 


GILES  B.  JACKSON 

AND 

D.  WEBSTER  DAVIS 


RICHMOND,  VA. 

NEGRO  EDUCATIONAL  ASSOCIATION 
1911 


Copyright,  1908,  by  Giles  B.  Jackson 
Richmond,  Virginia 


Revised  Edition 
Copyright,   1911 


All  Rights  Reserved 


Composition,  Press  Work  and  Binding 
by  L.  H.  Jenkins,  Richmond,  Va. 


260016 


[4] 


PREFACE 

Every  race  has  its  history  written  by  its  own  members. 
This,  to  our  mind,  is  a  special  reason  why  the  Negro  should 
have  a  history  of  himself,  written  by  members  of  his  own 
race,  and  that  history  should  be  taught  in  the  schools  of  the 
youth  of  the  race.  As  history  can  be  best  gleaned  from  his 
industrial  progress,  the  writers  of  this  book  feel  that  a  history, 
showing  the  strides  made  by  the  race  along  industrial  lines, 
would  prove  most  beneficial,  not  only  to  the  adult,  but  espe 
cially  to  the  youth. 

The  information  furnished  through  the  medium  of  this 
book  could  not  be  obtained  through  any  other  source  or  com 
bination  of  sources ;  for  the  reason  that  the  authors  have  spent 
large  sums  of  money  and  labored  for  more  than  four  years, 
to  secure  it. 

Giles  B.  Jackson  has  been  engaged  for  a  number  of  years 
in  the  practice  of  law  among  his  people,  and  in  this  capacity 
has  come  in  contact  with  every  element  of  his  people,  and  is 
thus  well  prepared  to  speak  of  them  from  close  contact.  He 
was  the  promoter  of  the  Jamestown  Negro  Exhibit,  whose 
successful  history  is  known  to  all  the  world.  In  this  arduous 
duty  he  traveled  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other, 
and  met  the  leading  men  and  women  in  their  own  localities, 
studying  the  industrial  history  and  progress  of  his  people, 
and  thus  it  can  be  readily  seen  he  is  well  prepared  to  speak 
upon  many  phases  of  this  great  subject. 

D.  Webster  Davis  has  been  for  more  than  thirty  years 
a  teacher  in  the  Public  Schools,  a  Conductor  of  Summer  Nor 
mals  for  teachers,  a  public  lecturer  and  a  minister  of  the 
[5] 


6  PREFACE 

Gospel,  and  is  the  author  of  three  volumes  that  have  met  with 
the  commendation  of  the  black  and  white  public. 

The  getting  together  of  a  special  Negro  Exhibit  of  the 
Jamestown  Exposition,  separate  and  distinct  from  that  of  the 
white  race,  was  a  stupendous  and  difficult  undertaking.  Many 
of  the  best  thinking  persons  of  our  race  thought  that  such 
an  exhibit  would  give  aid  and  comfort  to  Negro  discrimina 
tion.  Many  thought  it  would  be  of  such  little  moment  as  to 
bring  the  race  in  disrepute,  rather  than  aid  in  its  development. 
Our  people  were  thus  divided  in  sentiment,  which  made  the 
undertaking  seemingly  impossible;  and  yet  the  results  will 
justify  the  most  sanguine  hope  of  the  most  ardent  friends  of 
the  race.  We  think  it  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  Negro 
Exhibit  was  one  of  the  central  figures  of  the  Exposition.  From 
three  to  twelve  thousand  people  visited  it  each  day  and  went 
away  astounded  at  the  marvelous  display  of  every  possible 
department  of  Negro  thrift  and  industry.  It  silenced  the 
croakers,  gratified  the  friends  beyond  expression,  made  friends 
of  the  enemies,  and  indeed  it  may  be  said  that  "they  who  came 
to  scoff,  remained  to  pray." 

It  has  been  demonstrated  that  of  all  races  in  the  world,  the 
N.egro  knows  less  about  himself.  The  rank  and  file  have  no 
conception  of  the  industrial  progress  of  their  own  race,  and 
even  the  learned  but  a  poor,  and,  at  best,  partial  knowledge 
of  what  is  going  on  among  our  people  in  this  country.  Per 
haps  the  saddest  feature  of  the  Exposition  was  the  fact  that 
so  few  of  our  people  were  able  to  see  it,  and  thus  gain  the 
inspiration  that  such  a  scene  must  have  given  the  dullest  soul. 

To  remedy  this  defect,  we  have  decided  to  write  a  £ull 
history  of  this  magnificent  display  to  inspire  the  youth  of  the 
land  to  high  endeavor,  to  encourage  them  in  every  laudable 
attempt  to  rise,  and  let  them  see  what  has  already  been  accom- 


PREFACE  j 

plished,  and  thus  give  hope  for  the  years  to  come.  We  pro 
pose  to  place  this  book,  if  possible,  in  the  hands  of  every 
Negro  school  boy  and  girl  in  the  land,  that  he  may  know  his 
own  people,  and,  by  virtue  of  that  knowledge,  be  inspired  to 
do  his  part  to  build  up  to  greater  heights  the  race  with  which 
he  is  identified.  We  feel  that  this  book,  teeming  with  infor 
mation,  is  an  absolute  necessity  if  we  are  to  be  in  the  future 
what  the  present  progress  would  indicate.  When  our  white 
friends  shall  read  this  book  they  will  feel  encouraged  to  know 
that  their  labors  have  not  been  in  vain.  When  our  enemies 
and  villifiers  read  it  they  must  at  least  have  a  greater  respect 
for  our  people  or  prove  themselves  too  prejudiced  to  accept 
indisputable  evidence  of  the  powers  of  a  people. 

We  feel  it  an  injustice  that  the  $200,000  spent  upon  this 
exhibition  should  die  in  the  minds  of  the  people.  Therefore, 
we  are  using  this  means  to  perpetuate  the  great  good  that 
was  accomplished.  If  it  shall  encourage  our  friends,  both 
North  and  South,  in  the  smallest  measure,  silence  our  enemies, 
put  new  inspiration  into  thousands  of  ministers,  teachers, 
professional  men,  merchants,  mechanics  and  laborers,  who 
are  struggling  for  the  uplift  of  the  race,  and  fill  the  little 
black  boy  and  girl,  studying  in  the  school  rooms  of  our  land, 
with  a  new  hope,  and  point  unmistakably  that  God  is  with 
us  and  there  is  a  "shout  of  a  king  in  the  camp,"  we  shall  be 
satisfied. 


CONTENTS 


INTRODUCTION.— Pages   17-18. 

CHAPTER   I. 

ORIGIN,  ETHNOLOGY  AND  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEGRO. 

—Negro  a  Human  Being— Not  an  Inferior  Being— The  Humane 
and  Intelligent  the  Negro's  Friend— Dispersion  of  the  Three 
Sons  of  Noah— Pyramids  Built  by  Negroes— Why  the  Negro  is 
Black— His  Curly  Hair— Curse  of  Cain— No  Curse  Upon  the 
Negro  Race— Hope  for  the  Race.  Pages  19-24. 

CHAPTER  II. 

INTRODUCTION  OF  AFRICAN  SLAVERY  IN  AMERICA.— Indian 
and  African  Slavery — Landing  of  First  Slaves — Slavery  in 
Other  Colonies — Slavery  in  Maryland — Slavery  in  Delaware — 
Slavery  in  North  Carolina— Slavery  in  South  Carolina— Slavery 
in  Georgia — Slavery  in  Pennsylvania — Slavery  in  New  Jersey 
— Slavery  in  New  York — Slavery  in  Connecticut— Slavery  in 
Rhode  Island — Slavery  in  Massachusetts — Slavery  in  New 
Hampshire — Slavery  in  Vermont — Slavery  in  Other  States- 
Slavery  in  Virginia — Fidelity  of  the  Negro  Slave — The  Im 
ported  Slaves-  ^Treatment  of  Slaves  in  New  York — Treatment 
of  Slaves  in  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut- 
Treatment  of  Slaves  in  New  Hampshire  and  Maryland — Treat 
ment  of  Slaves  in  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania — Treatment  of 
Slaves  in  North  Carolina— Treatment  of  Slaves  in  South  Caro 
lina — Treatment  of  Slaves  in  Georgia.  Page  25-35. 

CHAPTER  III. 

SLAVERY  NORTH  AND  SOUTH— Slavery  in  the  North— Slavery 
in  the  South — Slaves  in  Virginia — Old  Mistress — Fugitive 
Slaves — Under  Ground  Railroad  Stations — Dred  Scott  Decision 
— Slavery  in  the  Territories — Escape  of  the  Slaves — James 
Summerset — Black  Laws — Negro  Insurrections.  Pages  36-42, 
[9] 


10  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  IV.  . 

NEGRO  AS  A  SOLDIER— Man's  Duty  to  His  Country— Negroes 
Have  Few  Monuments — Most  Monuments  Erected  by  the  Govern 
ment — The  Negro  Veteran — Negro  in  the  Revolutionary  War — 
Boston  Massacre — Negro  Heroes  in  the  War — Feeling  Among 
Generals — Rewards  of  Heroes  of  Revolution.  Pages  43-47. 

CHAPTER  V. 

NEGRO  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1812.— Cause  of  the  War— Manuscript 
of  Mr.  D.  Lee  Child— Major  Jeffereys.  Pages  48-49. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

NEGRO  IN  MEXICAN  WAR.— Part  Taken  by  Negroes  Necessarily 
Very  Limited- — Why  Negroes  were  Scarce  in  This  War — Negro's 
Record  in  War  Hastened  His  Freedom.  Pages  50-51. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES.— Slavery  Not  the  Cause  of  the 
War — Fundamental  Differences  Between  North  and  the  South — 
Slavery  Question — Contributing  Causes  to  the  War — First  Gun 
Fired  at  Fort  Sumpter — Not  a  History  of  the  War— Part  Taken 
by  Negroes  in  the  War — Negroes  in  the  Navy — The  First  Offi 
cial  Authority  for  Enlistment  of  Negro  Troops— Commanders 
of  Negro  Soldiers — Battles  in  Which  the  Negroes  Were  En 
gaged  and  Some  Heroes  of  the  War — Battle — Milliken's  Bend, 
Fort  Wagner,  Fort  Pillow,  Crater  at  Petersburg,  Rodman's 
Point — Negro  Wrought  Out  His  Freedom  by  Valor  of  Arms. 
Pages  52-57. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

RESUME  OF  THE  WAR  AND  EMANICAPTION  OF  THE  NEGRO. 
— Emancipation  from  Shackles,  Emancipation  of  the  Heart  and 
Mind— Self-help  the  Best— The  War  was  Not  Started  to  Free 
the  Slaves — Mr.  Lincoln's  Inaugural  Address — Call  for  Troops— 


CONTENTS  II 

Meaning  of  Emancipation  Proclamation — Text  of  the  Emancipa 
tion  Proclamation — The  Effect  of  the  Proclamation — Hampton 
Roads  Conference — South  Against  Slavery — Gradual  Emancipa 
tion — South  the  Negro's  Home.  Pages  58-65. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

NEGRO  IN  SPANISH  AMERICAN  WAR.— Negroes  in  all  the  Wars- 
Cuban  Insurrection — Ninth  and  Tenth  Cavalry — Some  Heroes 
of  Spanish-American  War — -Sixth  Virginia  Regiment — Charge 
of  San  Juan  Hill — What  the  Record  of  the  Negro  in  the  Various 
War  Teaches.  Pages  GG-G7. 

CHAPTER   X. 

RELIGION. — Religious  Advancement — Religious  Ideals  of  the  Race 
— Infidelity  and  Atheism — Experience  of  Grace — Getting  Happy 
— Religion  and  Ethics — Great  Preachers — His  Present  Religious 
Status — Elements  of  Hope — Possibilities  of  Growth — Benevo 
lence — Some  Benevolent  Institutions — Other  Forms  of  Religious 
Activity — Some  Religious  Characteristics.  Pages  68-75. 

CHAPTER   XL 

EDUCATION  OF  THE  NEGRO.— Education  of  the  Past— The  End 
of  Education — Advancement  in  Negro  Education — Expenditures 
for  Negro  Education — History  of  Negro  Education— What  the 
Negro  Has  Done  for  Himself— What  the  Race  Must  Learn — 
The  Kind  of  Education  the  Race  Needs — Advantages  of  Indus 
trial  Education — Some  Great  Industrial  Schools — Hampton 
Normal  and  Agricultural  School — Tuskegee's  Normal  and  In 
dustrial  School— Other  Schools  with  Industrial  Features.  Pages 
76-87. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

BUSINESS  AND  COMMERCE.— His  Business  Career  Necessarily 
Crude — Every  Man  Must  Work — Negro  Engaged  in  Every 
Branch  of  Industry — Report  of  A.  F.  Hilyer  of  Negro  Business 


12  CONTENTS 

— Report  of  Atlanta  Conference — Conspicuous  Business  Enter 
prises — Other  Than  Commercial  Business— Disadvantages  of 
Negroes  in  Business— With  Whom  He  Trades— Our  Great  Need. 
Pages  88-96. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

ACCUMULATIONS  OP  THE  NEGROES  IN  VIRGINIA.— Property 
Acquired  in  Various  Counties  of  Virginia — "Grand  Fountain 
United  Order  of  True  Reformers" — "Jackson  Ward" — "Insur 
ance  Companies  in  Jackson  Ward" — "General  Business  Statis 
tics  of  the  Negroes  of  the  City  of  Richmond."  Pages  97-103. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  FARMER  AND  INVENTOR.— Negro  a  Good 
Farm  Hand — The  Negro  a  Social  Being — Leaving  the  Farm  for 
the  City — Negro  as  a  Land  Owning  Farmer — How  to  Keep 
the  Negro  on  the  Farm — Farmers'  Congress  and  Conferences 
Negro  as  an  Inventor — Success  as  an  Inventor — List  of  Promi 
nent  Inventions — The  Negro  an  Inventive  Genius.  Pages  104- 
111. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

NEGRO  IN  LITERATURE.— Book  Making  a  High  Achievement- 
English  Difficult— Why — Patois— Effect  of  Negro  Jorgon  on 
Whites— Centuries  to  Make  Great  Writers — Negro  as  Historical 
Writer — Some  Historical  Books— Some  Prose  Books— Some 
Poetical  Books— Some  Negro  Text  Books— Some  Fiction — Ob 
ject  and  Some  of  Negro  Works — His  Future  in  Literature — 
Names  of  Prominent  Negro  Writers.  Pages  112-121. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE    NEGRO    IN    ART.— Painting— Sculpture— Actors    and    Elocu 
tionists — Oratory — Music — Negro    Composers — Negro    Si 
Examples  of  Each.     Pages  122-128. 


CONTENTS  13 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

NEGRO  WOMANHOOD.— Woman's  Place  in  Race  Development— 
The  Race's  Debt  to  the  Mothers  of  the  Past— The  New  Mother 
— Woman's  Work — Woman's  Work  in  Benevolence — Need  of 
Systematic  Effort.  Pages  129-135. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

NEGRO  DEVELOPMENT  AND  EXPOSITION  COMPANY  OP  THE 
UNITED  STATES. 

DECLARATION  OF  PURPOSE.— Letter  to  the  White  People  of  the 
Country — Special  Appeal  to  the  White  People  of  Richmond  and 
the  State  of  Virginia — Comments  from  Ex-Governor  J.  Hoge 
Tyler,  of  Virginia;  C.  B.  Aycock,  of  North  Carolina;  Senator 
John  W.  Daniel,  of  Virginia;  Ex-President  Grover  Cleveland — 
The  Petition  to  Congress — To  the  Committee  on  Industrial  Arts 
and  Expositions  Including  Notes  on  Negro  Progress — The 
Negro  as  a  Producer  in  Virginia — Letter  to  the  Governor  of 
Various  States.  Pages  13G-159. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

REPORT  OP  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE.— Negro  Exhibit 
Jamestown  Exposition  to  April  30,  1908 — An  Extract  from  the 
Report  to  the  Tercentennial  Commission — Sunday  Civic  Act — 
The  Contractors — Field  Agents — Their  Commission  and  their 
Accomplishment — Special  Features — The  Emergency  Hospital 
— Plantation  Songs — The  Warrick  Tableaux — Department  of  In 
ventions — The  Savings  Bank — Departments  of  Music  and  Litera 
ture — Ex-President  Roosevelt's  Visit — Prof.  Keely  Miller's  Ad 
dress  in  Part— Prof.  Booker  T.  Washington's  Visit— Report  of 
the  Advisory  Board  for  the  Negro  Building  for  the  Jury  of 
Awards — Discussion  of  the  Important  Exhibits  and  a  list  of 
those  Awarded  Prizes — Comments— From  Governor  Claude  A. 


!4  CONTENTS 

Swanson,  of  Virginia;  Governor  R.  E.  Glenn,  of  North  Carolina; 
Hon.  Andrew  L.  Harris — Hon.  A.  B.  Miller,  Private  Secretary 
to  Governor  Stuart— Exposition  Notes— Speech  of  Colonel  Giles 
B.  Jackson — Ex-President  Roosevelt's  Visit  to  the  Headquarters 
at  Richmond,  Virginia.  Pages  160-250. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

POEMS.— Plantation  Melodies— "Hail!  Hail!  Hail!" — "My  Lord 
Delivere'd  Daniel" — "View  De  Land" — "Oh,  Yes" — "Nobody 
Knows  the  Trouble  I've  Seen"— "The  Danville  Chariot"— 
"Swing  Low  Sweet  Chariot" — "The  Angel  Done  Change  My 
Name" — "The  Negro  Meets  to  Pray"— "Ole  Mistis"— "De  Ghana 
Cup" — "My  Childhood's  Happy  Days" — "De  Niggers  Got  to 
Go" — "Aunt  Chole's  Lullaby" — "When  De  Co'n  Pone's  Hot" — 
"A  Lullaby."  Pages  251-291. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

REV.  JOHN  JASPER.— His  Life— "The  Sun  Do  Move"  Sermon. 
Pages  293-317 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

"THE  NEGRO  IN  AMERICA."— An  Address  by  Andrew  Carnegie, 
Delivered  Before  the  Philosophical  Institute  of  Edinburgh, 
October  16,  1907 — Sketch  of  Mr.  Carnegie's  Life — A  Review  of 
the  Achievements  of  the  Negro — Examples  of  Thrift  and  In 
dustry.  Pages  318-366. 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS.     Pages  367-369. 


<  I 


INTRODUCTION 

History  is  a  record  of  human  events,  chronicled  not  only 
for  the  purpose  of  imparting  information  as  to  the  achieve 
ments  of  men  and  nations,  but  more  to  inspire  men  to  greater 
efforts  and  nobler  things.  What  man  has  done,  man  can  do 
and  more.  The  peoples  of  the  earth  have  long  since  found 
out  the  great  power  of  history  in  shaping  the  destiny  of 
coming  generations.  The  Negro  youth  of  to-day  needs  this 
stimulus  more  than  the  youth  of  any  other  race,  because  of 
his  backwardness  as  compared  to  other  races  living  in  thor 
oughly  civilized  countries.  Pride  in  the  struggle  and  achieve 
ments  of  the  ancestors  of  a  people  furnish  the  most  powerful 
incentive  to  heroic  endeavor. 

The  Negro  child,  on  completing  a  course,  in  American  his 
tory,  has  found  almost  nothing  concerning  his  own  people,  and 
rises  from  his  study  with  the  feeling  that  all  these  things  of 
which  he  has  studied  have  practically  no  relation  to  him 
self,  and  therefore,  in  the  concrete  sense,  is  rather  discouraged 
than  helped,  and  feels  like  Topsy,  that  "niggers  ain't  nothin' 
and  can't  be  nothin'  no  how." 

The  American  system  of  education  has  no  such  desire  in 
view,  and  to  supply  this  defect,  that  to  the  Negro  youth  is  a 
calamity,  this  volume  has  been  prepared. 

The  Negro  has  been  patriotic,  he  has  shown  valor  and  de 
votion  to  his  country — the  only  one  the  Negro  of  to-day 
knows — America. 

This  book  has  been  written  along  the  same  lines  as  Ameri 
can  history  written  by  others.  The  facts  have  been  positively 
verified,  and  proofs  of  each  statement  can  be  found  in  the 
[17] 


!g  INTRODUCTION 

Library  of  the  United  States  at  Washington.  The  tone  is 
fair  and  absolutely  without  prejudice  to  either  race,  and 
should  bring  as  much  joy  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  that  has 
always  been  able  to  rejoice  in  the  success  of  others  as  in  their 
own  marvellous  achievements,  as  it  will  give  to  the  Negro. 
Whatever  these  pages  may  show  of  credit  to  the  Negro  is 
equally  to  the  credit  of  American  white  men  from  whom  he 
has  obtained  his  ideals,  and  by  whose  friendship  and  kind 
ness  he  has  been  able  to  do  what  these  pages  show  he  has 
done. 

Finally,  it  remains  with  the  Negro  teachers  of  this  country, 
into  whose  hands  this  book  must  fall,  to  make  it  a  powerful, 
vitalizing  influence  to  inspire  the  Negro  youth  and  compel 
him  to  feel  and  know  that  "good  can  come  out  of  Nazareth," 
and  that  "Ethiopia  shall  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God." 

D.  WEBSTER  DAVIS. 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 
NEGRO  RACE 


CHAPTER  I 
ORIGIN,  ETHNOLOGY  AND  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEGRO 

What  is  a  Negro?  It  will  seem  passing  strange  to  men, 
who  have  not  closely  followed  this  subject,  to  know  that  some 
one  has  actually  written  a  book  and  attempted  to  prove  that 
the  Negro  is  not  a  human  being,  not  a  descendant  of  Ham, 
not  a  child  of  God,  but  an  inferior  being,  having  no  connec 
tion  with  the  original  creation.  This  book  has  been  seriously 
answered  by  another  with  the  title,  "The  Negro  a  Man."  Be 
lieving  that  this  proposition  is  hardly  worthy  of  serious  con 
sideration,  we  pass  it  by  with  but  this  single  notice. 

A  question,  perhaps,  of  more  serious  moment  is :  Is  the 
Negro  an  inferior  being?  This  can  be  readily  answered  by 
the  one  proposition  tfo  ':.  if  the  statement  of  Holy  Writ  is 
true,  "God  made  man  in  His  own  image,  in  His  own  likeness 
made  He  him,  male  and  female  made  He  them,"  the  question 
;s  at  once  answered.  If  God  breathed  in  man  the  breath  of 
life  and  he  became  a  living  soul,  then  he  is  a  part  of  God 
himself.  Soul  property  knows  no  inferiority.  We  must 
acknowledge  that  at  present  we  are  inferior  in  advantages 
and  numbers,  but  certainly  not  innately.  Men  are  not  superior 
or  inferior  by  accident  of  race  or  color,  but  only  superior  or 
inferior  in  heart  and  brain.  Superiority  is  born  of  honesty, 
virtue,  charity  and  love,  of  liberty,  and  we  are,  inferior  only 


20  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

to  the  man  who  loves  God  better  and  serves  his  fellowman 
with  more  earnestness  of  purpose.  The  enemies  of  the 
Negro,  because  he  is  a  Negro,  are  enemies  of  liberty,  progress, 
humanity  and  God,  who  said,  "Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto 
the  least  of  these  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

The  humane  and  intelligent  of  every  age  and  every  country 
have  been  friends  to  the  oppressed  and  down-trodden.  George 
Washington,  of  noble  lineage,  the  father  of  this  country; 
Thomas  Jefferson,  the  founder  of  our  great  Government; 
Robert  E.  Lee,  the  Christian  soldier  and  patriot;  Thomas  J. 
Jackson  (Stonewall),  who  could  take  time  from  a  busy  life, 
as  a  professor  in  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  to  become  a 
teacher  in  a  Negro  Sunday-school  for  many  years ;  and  the 
noblest  blood  of  Virginia  have  ever  shown  their  great  love  to 
human  liberty  by  aiding  the  oppressed  of  our  race.  Women 
who  were  willing  to  leave  their  homes  of  virtue  and  joy  and 
go  to  the  leper  colonies  to  care  for  the  oppressed,  and  the 
noblest  of  noble  women,  the  old  mistress  on  a  Southern  planta 
tion,  who  found  it  her  delight  to  administer  to  the  sick  and 
dying  of  the  Negro  race  upon  hundreds  of  plantations,  are 
but  types  of  love  to  human  kind.  As  it  has  been  in  the  past, 
so  it  will  be  until  time  shall  be  no  more :  the  best  and  noblest 
of  every  land  will  be  the  friend  to  the  Negro. 

Let  us  accept  the  statement  that  God  made  of  one  blood  all 
men  to  dwell  upon  all  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  the  proposi 
tion  is  at  once  established.  Continuity  of  language,  oneness 
of  feeling,  and  desire  for  worship ;  these  three  unite  the  great 
human  family  in  a  single  whole.  Let  us  watch  upon  the  plain 
of  Shinah,  the  dispersion  of  races,  if  we  accept  the  Bible  story 
of  Noah  and  his  family.  Let  us  see  the  three  sons  as  they 
go  forth  to  replenish  the  world.  Central  Asia  was  the  original 
home  of  the  human  race  and  the  three  brothers,  Ham,  Shem 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  21 

and  Japheth,  who  were  destined  to  repeople  the  world,  repre 
sent  the  great  divisions  of  the  human  family,  and  all  other 
races  are  but  sub-divisions  of  these  three.  Japheth,  the  repre 
sentative  of  the  white  race,  now  known  as  the  Caucasian, 
goes  to  Europe  and  gives  to  the  world  commerce ;  Shem  to 
Asia,  and  gives  to  the  world  religion;  Ham  to  Africa,  and 
gives  the  arts  and  sciences  to  civilization.  Herodotus  and 
Strabo  both  mention  him.  Nero  Ephodorus  (B.  C.  405) 
seems  to  think  well  of  the  Ethiopian.  Herodotus  expressly 
says  that  a  great  number  of  Ethiopians  of  his  time  had  black 
faces  and  curly  hair.  The  Hebrew  annals  show  Egypt  to 
have  contained  a  number  of  Negroes,  and  mention  a  conquer 
ing  king  invading  Egypt  at  the  head  of  a  great  Negro  host, 
and  for  a  long  time  governing  it.  Thus,  there  is  no  doubt  of 
the  antiquity  of  the  Negro. 

Pyramids  were  built  by  Negroes  or  by  their  close  relation, 
if  we  are  to  follow  the  inscriptions  which  we  find  thereon. 
The  God  of  Egypt  was  named  Hammon  or  Amon,  from  Ham. 

WHY  Is  THE  NEGRO  BLACK? — We  think  it  can  be  conclu 
sively  proven  that  climatic  conditions  have  had  to  do  with  the 
blackness  of  his  skin  and  the  curl  of  his  hair.  Many  Africans 
have  black  skin  without  curly  hair,  and  many  others  have 
curly  hair  and  a  very  light  skin,  and  as  a  fact  known  to  every 
traveler,  in  Africa  can  be  found  persons  of  purely  African 
type  and  yet  perfectly  white.  Under  the  Equator  they  were 
deep  black,  as  the  Aztecs.  We  find  the  copper  color  as  we  go 
higher,  as  in  the  American  Indian  of  North  America ;  the 
Spaniard  and  the  Italian  being  swarthy  and  inclined  to  dark 
color;  then  the  French,  darker  than  the  English  white.  The 
English  and  the  Germans  are  a  florid  complexion;  while  the 
Swedes,  being  in  a  very  cold  climate,  are  of  a  dead  white. 


22  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

There  are  gradations  of  color  even  in  Africa  itself.  Inhabi 
tants  of  the  North,  as  we  stated  before,  are  white.  As  we 
advance  South,  where  the  sun's  rays  shine  very  perpendicular, 
we  find  a  darker  hue  than  that  found  in  this  country.  This 
fact  may  be  clearly  demonstrated :  A  person  from  the  hot 
regions  of  the  South  going  North  and  remaining  any  length  of 
time,  invariably  becomes  of  a  lighter  hue,  while  the  fairest 
Caucasian,  with  a  few  seasons  of  tanning  by  African  sun, 
could  be  easily  mistaken  for  a  Negro,  so  far  as  color  is  con 
cerned. 

This  curling  hair  is  only  a  type  of  similar  conditions.  The 
Jolofs,  Mandingoes  and  Caffers  have  perfect  limbs,  with  fea 
tures  as  elegant  as  any  Caucasian.  The  style  of  living  also 
modifies  human  features  in  the  course  of  a  single  generation. 
The  Irish,  driven  from  Antrim  and  Downes,  developed  pro 
jecting  jaws,  large  mouths,  high  cheek  bones  and  bow  legs — 
simply  the  result  of  being  driven  from  a  higher  civilization. 
Coarse  and  ill-prepared  food,  says  Buffoon,  the  French  Natu 
ralist,  will  make  any  people  become  coarse  in  features  as  well 
as  in  manner ;  and  the  climatic  effect  upon  the  hair  is  well 
known  to  the  casual  observer.  The  Negro  has  been  men 
tioned  in  history  for  more  than  six  thousand  years.  Christ 
fled  into  Egypt  from  the  wrath  of  Shem  and  Japheth,  and 
was  cared  for  in  earliest  childhood  by  a  son  of  Ham,  and, 
groaning  under  the  burden  of  the  Cross  of  Calvary,  being 
whipped  and  spurred  to  accomplish  the  atonement  for  man 
kind,  Shem  laughed  and  derided,  Japheth  scourged  and  mocked, 
but  Ham  helped  to  bear  his  Cross.  Phillip,  in  attempting  to 
spread  the  religion  of  the  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
first  taught  it  to  an  Ethiopian  eunuch,  wrho  spread  it  in  his 
own  kingdom,  and  traces  may  still  be  distinctly  found  upon 
the  records  of  that  now  almost  unknown  country. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  23 

Before  we  can  pursue  the  study  of  this  history  with  any 
thing  like  a  fair  idea  and  open  mind,  it  seems  to  us  the  first 
thing  to  be  done  is  to  rid  the  mind  of  that  much-mooted  curse 
of  Cain.  If  we  are  to  believe  that  God  did  really  curse  the 
Negro  race,  if  we  are  to  believe  that  in  struggling  for  our 
own  uplift  we  are  striving  against  a  positive  edict  of  Jehovah, 
then  we  might  well  give  up  in  despair;  and  yet  even  if  it 
were  a  curse,  this  race  has  washed  it  out  long  ago  in  tears  and 
blood. 

Sad  as  it  may  seem  to  relate,  truth  compels  us  to  say  that 
Noah  simply  got  drunk,  and  in  his  drunken  stupor  attempted 
to  curse  Ham,  but  strange  to  say,  cursed  Cain  instead,  if 
curse  it  could  be  called.  But  the  best  evidence  of  a  prophecy 
of  God  is  its  fulfillment.  Instead  of  a  "servant  of  servants 
unto  his  brethren,"  the  Hebrews,  the  direct  descendants  of 
Shem,  were  in  subjection  to  Ham,  and  there  slavery  was  first 
worked  out  on  the  shores  of  Africa  for  more  than  four  hun 
dred  years.  Abraham,  the  father  of  the  faithful,  we  are  told 
by  the  Word  of  God,  "Bowed  down  to  the  children  of  Heth," 
in  order  to  find  a  sepulchre  for  his  dead,  and  again  this  same 
Word  tells  us  that  the  Canaanites  would  dwell  in  the  land, 
and  it  was  utterly  impossible  for  the  sons  of  Shem  to  anni 
hilate  them. 

Cush,  the  eldest  son  of  Ham,  father  of  Nimrod,  was  the 
founder  of  the  great  City  of  Babylon,  and  Nimrod's  son  built 
the  City  of  Nineveh,  to  which  place  Jonah  wras  sent  to  preach 
repentance.  We  would  have  our  people  understand  that  no 
curse  rests  between  ourselves  and  the  highest  possible  develop 
ment.  The  Ten  Commandments  say,  "The  iniquity  of  the 
father  shall  descend  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and 
fourth  generation  of  them  that  hate  me."  And  if  this  be 
true,  certainly  if  by  any  stretch  of  the  imagination  it  could 


24  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

be  called  a  curse,  it  has  long  since  passed  away  with  the 
fourth  generation.  Christ  came  to  fulfill  all  things  and  to  be 
the  brother  and  advocate  of  all  mankind  and  to  restore  him 
back  to  the  love  and  favor  of  the  Father.  Let  us  not  mind  the 
way  the  Lord  takes  to  bring  us  home.  "Weeping  may  endure 
for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning." 

Let  us  begin  to  feel  in  the  very  outset  of  the  study  of  our 
history  that  the  best  men  of  all  races  are  our  friends,  that  we 
have  within  ourselves  the  making  of  our  own  destiny,  and 
that  God  is  ever  the  friend  of  the  earnest,  struggling,  unselfish 
race  or  individual. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  25 

CHAPTER  II 
INTRODUCTION  OF  AFRICAN  SLAVERY  IN  AMERICA 

At  the  beginning  of  English  colonization  in  North  America, 
Indian  and  African  slavery  had  already  been  established  in 
the  Spanish  colonies  in  South  America  and  in  the  West  Indies. 
It  naturally  was  introduced  in  the  English  colonies,  especially 
from  the  Barbadoes. 

The  first  authentic  case  of  this  introduction  in  America 
was  at  Jamestown,  in  1619,  when  a  Dutch  vessel,  being  in 
need  of  supplies,  landed  here  and  exchanged  fourteen  Negroes 
for  food  and  supplies.  These  Negroes  were  enslaved,  but 
no  law  enforcing  this  fact  was  passed  until  1622,  at  which 
time  there  were  nearly  tw'o  thousand  slaves  in  the  colony, 
most  of  whom  had  been  imported  from  Africa  to  Jamestown, 
and  this  is  the  first  colony  of  which  we  can  speak  of  slavery 
as  having  had  a  definite  beginning;  for  in  the  other  colonies 
the  institution  seems  to  have  been  so  long  established  as  to 
have  lost  its  novelty.  The  rule,  soon  established,  that  children 
should  take  the  condition  of  their  mother,  proved  a  spur  to 
the  system  and  added  to  its  iniquity. 

SLAVERY  IN  THE  OTHER  COLONIES. — While  Virginia  pre 
sents  the  first  authentic  case  of  positive  slavery,  all  of  the 
colonies  north  and  south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  were 
equally  guilty. 

SLAVERY  IN  MARYLAND. — In  1663  the  Civil  Law  Ri:le  was 
adopted  by  the  following  provision :  "Africans,  or  rather 
slaves,  within  the  province,  or  thereafter  imported,  should 
serve  through  life,  and  their  children  also." 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE  27 

SLAVERY  IN  DELAWARE. — The  Swedes,  who  settled  in  Dela 
ware,  at  first  prohibited  slavery,  but  it  was  introduced  here 
by  the  Dutch.  It  probably  existed  in  1636,  but  its  first  legal 
recognition  was  in  1721,  when  an  act  was  passed  providing 
for  trial  of  slaves  by  two  justices  and  two  free-holders.  Here 
slavery,  with  this  single  exception,  was  wholly  a  matter  of 
custom. 

SLAVERY  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. — When  the  two  colonies 
were  united,  the  noth  article  provided  that  every  freeman 
should  have  "absolute  power  and  authority  over  his  colored 
slaves  of  whatever  opinion  or  religion  soever."  This  became 
a  fundamental  law  of  North  Carolina  without  statutory  enact 
ments  further  than  police  regulations. 

SLAVERY  IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA. — The  first  legislative  act 
was  passed  February  7,  1690,  for  the  better  ordering  of  slaves. 
Slavery  is  said  to  have  been  introduced  by  Governor  Yea- 
mans,  in  1670,  and  formally  legalized  by  declaring  that  "all 
Africans  and  Indians  heretofore  sold,  or  thereafter  to  be  sold, 
and  their  children,  slaves  to  all  intents  and  purposes."  Many 
cruel  laws  were  passed  for  the  treatment  of  slaves  who  should 
run  away  for  the  fourth  time,  and  yet  an  act  was  passed  in 
1704,  and  reenacted  in  1708,  for  enlisting  of  colored  troops  in 
the  army. 

SLAVERY  IN  GEORGIA. — Here  slavery  was  prohibited  with 
the  establishment  of  the  colony  in  1732,  but  in  1749  Parlia 
ment  gave  them  power  to  repeal  this  act.  In  1775  the  Legisla 
ture  passed  an  act  regulating  the  conduct  of  the  slaves. 

SLAVERY  IN  PENNSYLVANIA. — Slavery  was  first  heard  of 
here  in  1688,  when  Francis  Daniel  Pastorious  drew  up  a 
memorial  against  the  practice  for  the  Germantown  Quakers ; 


28  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

upon  which  memorial  the  Qfuakers,  at  their  yearly  meeting, 
acted  favorably  in  1696.  In  1700  the  Legislature  forbade  the 
selling  of  slaves  out  of  the  province  without  their  consent. 
Frequent  legislation  was  had  to  check  and  abolish  slave  trade, 
but  even  in  1795,  the  State  Supreme  Court  decided  that  slavery 
was  not  inconsistent  with  the  State  Constitution. 

SLAVERY  IN  NEW  JERSEY. — Slavery  here  was  introduced  by 
the  Dutch  also,  but  not  recognized  by  law  until  1664,  when 
the  word  "slave"  occurs  in  law  for  the  first  time.  In  East 
Jersey  they  were  tried  by  jury  in  1694,  and  in  West  Jersey 
the  word  "slave"  was  omitted  from  the  law.  New  Jersey 
never  passed  any  harsh  laws  and  the  condition  of  the  slaves 
was  more  tolerable  here  than  in  any  other  colony  where  the 
system  was  really  established. 

SLAVERY  IN  NEW  YORK. — Here  slavery  came  in  with  the 
Dutch  West  India  Company,  as  early  as  1628,  but  there  was 
no  legal  recognition  until  1665,  when  the  Duke  of  York's 
laws  forbade  the  enslavement  of  Christians,  thus  by  implica 
tion  conniving  at  slavery  of  Negroes,  who  were  considered 
heathen.  In  1683,  full  recognition  was  given  by  the  Naturali 
zation  Act,  that  "it  should  not  operate  to  free  those  held  as 
slaves";  and  by  an  act  of  1706,  to  allow  "baptism  of  slaves 
without  freeing  them." 

SLAVERY  IN  CONNECTICUT. — Here  slavery  was  never  directly 
established  by  statute,  and  the  time  of  its  introduction  is  un 
certain.  They  were  considered  as  slaves  rather  than  chattels, 
could  sue  their  masters  for  ill-treatment  and  deprivation  of 
property ;  and  the  only  legal  recognition  was  in  police  regula 
tions  in  1690,  in  order  to  check  the  wandering  and  running 
away  of  "purchased  colored  servants." 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  29 

SLAVERY  IN  RHODE  ISLAND. — Rhode  Island  passed  the  first 
act  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  our  history,  May  19,  1652. 
This  act  freed  all  slaves  brought  in  the  province  after  ten 
years  of  slavery.  This,  however,  was  never  obeyed,  custom 
being  too  strong  for  statutory  law. 

SLAVERY  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. — An  African  is  mentioned  in 
Massachusetts  in  1633,  as  an  "Estray  conducted  to  his  master." 
In  1636  a  Salem  ship  began  the  importation  of  African  slaves 
from  the  West  Indies,  and  thereafter  Pequot  Indians  were 
constantly  exchanged  for  Barbadoes  serfs.  Public  sentiment, 
after  1700,  began  to  develop  against  slavery.  In  December, 
1766,  a  jury  gave  a  colored  woman  four  pounds — damages 
against  her  master  for  restraining  her  of  her  liberty.  In 
1787,  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts  decided  that  under 
the  Constitution  of  1780  a  man  could  not  be  sold  in  that  State 
as  a  slave.  John  Ouincy  Adams  vouches  for  this  statement. 

SLAVERY  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. — Here  there  were  but  few 
slaves,  and  slavery  had  only  a  nominal  existence.  An  ac.t  was 
passed  in  1714  regulating  the  conduct  of  African  and  Mulatto 
servants  and  slaves. 

SLAVERY  IN  VERMONT. — Vermont  never  recognized  slavery. 

SLAVERY  IN  OTHER  STATES. — Milder  provisions  for  the 
regulation  of  slavery  were  made  in  Missouri,  1820;  Texas, 
1836;  Florida,  1838;  Kentucky,  1850;  Indiana,  1851;  Oregon, 
1857;  Louisiana,  1759;  and  Maryland  (1860)  provided  for 
the  volunteer  enlistment  of  free  colored  persons. 

SLAVERY  IN  VIRGINIA. — In  Virginia  slaves  were  mostly  em 
ployed  in  the  cultivation  of  tobacco,  wheat  and  corn,  and  this 
became  a  profitable  investment.  They  were  enlisted  in  the 
militia,  but  could  not  bear  arms  except  in  defence  of  the 


3o  INDUSTRIAL  PI  1  STORY 

colonies  against  the  Indians.  They  performed  the  greater 
part  of  manual  labor,  and  were  house  servants  and  mechanics, 
and,  in  fact,  indispensable  to  the  progress  of  Virginia  planta 
tions.  Railroads,  highways  and  magnificent  colonial  residences 
were  all  the  construction  of  Negro  labor,  and  it  may  be  said 
that  Negro  hands  made  Virginia  bloom  and  blossom  like  a 
rose. 

FIDELITY  OF  THE  NEGRO  SLAVE. — Books  might  be  written 
upon  this  one  phase  of  the  Negro  question-,  and  we  can  indeed 
say  with  Daniel  Webster,  in  speaking  of  the  history  of  this 
country,  "the  past,  at  least,  is  secure."  Governors,  represen 
tatives  and  senators  have  been  proud  to  speak  of  the  gentle 
ness,  sweetness  and  loveliness  of  character  of  the  black  "mam 
mies"  on  the  Southern  plantation.  And  never  until  men  shall 
fail  to  revere  noble  deeds,  and  honor  finds  a  dishonored  grave, 
will  men  cease  to  speak  of  the  unswerving  fidelity  of  the 
Negro  slave  upon  the  old  Southern  plantation  during  the  four 
years  of  dreadful  carnage. 

The  imported  slaves  came  chiefly  from  the  west  coast  of 
Africa,  though  a  few  were  brought  from  the  east  coast  and 
southern  coast  as  ^  ell.  Many  were  bought  direct  from  other 
tribes  who  had  captured  them  in  war  and  sold  them  to  white 
traders,  whose  vessels  landed  on  their  coasts.  Many  others 
were  captured  outright  by  crews  from  these  ships,  while  others 
were  enticed  by  beads,  pieces  of  bright  cloth  and  gaudy  tinsel. 
Many  of  them  came  from  tribes  possessing  more  or  less 
knowledge  of  the  use  of  tools  and  were  skilled  in  making  gold 
and  ivory  ornaments,  cloth  and  magnificent  weapons  of  war. 
The  men  had  been  trained  in  honesty,  truthfulness  and  valor; 
while  the  women  were  virtuous  even  unto  death.  Even  their 
system  of  polygamy  had  its  bright  side.  The  young  girls 
were,  married  off  at  early  age  for  their  own  protection*  The 


H 

PQ 


32  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

slave  had  much  respect  for  what  he  called  law,  honor  for  his 
parents,  and  despised  slavery. 

TREATMENT  OF  SLAVES  IN  NEW  YORK. — For  a  while  they 
were  treated  better  than  in  Virginia — being  taken  to  church, 
baptized  and  allowed  to  get  an  education,  yet  slaves  were  once 
sold  in  what  is  now  the  famous  Wall  Street,  and  the  whipping 
officer  was  once  a  regular  institution  in  New  York  City.  The 
riot  of  1712  shows  something  of  the  feeling  against  the  Negro 
population.  Having  been  excluded  from  the  schools,  they 
were  not  allowed  to  own  land  even  when  free,  were  forbidden 
to  strike  a  Christian  or  a  Jew  even  in  self-defence,  and  their 
testimony  was  excluded  from  court;  the  iniquity  was  carried 
further  by  setting  torches  to  their  houses  and  killing  them  in 
the  streets  while  they  helplessly  cried  for  mercy.  The  militia 
finally  subdued  the  riot,  but  not  before  many  whites  and 
Negroes  had  been  killed. 

TREATMENT  OF  SLAVES  IN  MASSACHUSETTS,  RHODE  ISLAND 
AND  CONNECTICUT. — In  1764  there  were  nearly  6,000  slaves  in 
Massachusetts;  about  4,000  in  Rhode  Island,  and  about  3,900 
in  Connecticut.  They  were  rated  as  horses  and  hogs,  could 
not  bear  arms  or  be  admitted  to  school.  They  were  baptized 
in  church,  but  this  did  not  have  the  effect  of  making  them  free 
men.  The  colonies  finally  became  alarmed,  fearing  that  unless 
the  slaves  were  treated  better  they  would  espouse  the  cause 
of  the  enemy.  The  slaves,  encouraged  by  a  tract  written  by 
Judge  Samuel  Sewall,  Chief  Justice  of  Massachusetts  Supreme 
Court,  in  1700,  presented  a  petition  for  their  emancipation. 
In  1773,  Felix  Holbrook  and  other  slaves  presented  a  petition 
to  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives,  asking  to  be 
set  free  and  granted  some  unimproved  lands  where  they 
might  earn  an  honest  living  as  free  men.  This  petition  was 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  33 

delayed  one  year,  and  finally  passed,  but  the  English  Gov 
ernors,  Hutchinson  and  Gage,  refused  to  sign  it  because  they 
thought  it  might  interfere  with  commerce.  This  act,  with 
others,  caused  the  Negro  slaves  to  feel  that  England  was 
inimical  to  their  freedom,  and  a  few  years  later,  when  Eng 
land  tried  to  subdue  the  colonies,  the  slave  population  enlisted 
largely  in  its  defence. 

TREATMENT  OF  SLAVES  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  AND  MARY 
LAND. — The  people  in  these  colonies,  seeing  the  sentiment  in 
regard  to  slavery,  early  passed  laws  against  their  importation. 
They  made  up  their  minds  that,  as  a  matter  of  business  as 
well  as  humanity,  it  was  best  not  to  attempt  to  build  up  their 
colony  at  the  sacrifice  of  blood  and  in  the  traffic  of  human 
souls.  Up  to  1630,  Maryland  was  a  part  of  Virginia,  and  the 
treatment  of  the  slaves  here  was  similar  to  that  in  Virginia. 
The  feeling  between  the  Catholics  ;and  the  Protestants  and  the 
enmity  existing  between  them  rel&ounded  to  the  good  of  the 
slaves.  These  religious  denominations,  in  their  endeavor  to 
out-do  each  other,  naturally  vied  with  one  another  in  the 
treatment  of  the  slaves  in  the  colony,  and  yet  by  law  a  white 
man  could  kill  a  Negro  and  be  subject  only  to  a  fine. 

TREATMENT  OF  SLAVES  IN  DELAWARE  AND  PENNSYLVANIA. — 
In  these  colonies  the  slaves  were  treated  about  as  they  were 
in  New  York.  While  the  north  of  the  colony  was  favorable 
to  slavery,  the  western  part,  being  influenced  by  the  Quakers 
in  Pennsylvania,  were  much  kinder  in  their  treatment.  The 
authorities  of  Pennsylvania  were  always  opposed  to  slavery, 
and  William  Penn  showed  himself  especially  friendly  to  the 
slaves. 

TREATMENT  OF  SLAVES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. — The  relation 
ship  existing  between  whites  and  blacks  in  North  Carolina 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  35 

has,  for  some  undefined  reason,  always  been  exceedingly  har 
monious.  Prior  to  the  War  between  the  States  there  were 
schools  for  free  colored  people  and  some  of  them  owned  slaves 
themselves,  and  since  the  Emancipation,  educational  advan 
tages  for  the  Negroes  of  this  State  have  been  exceedingly 
liberal.  Slaves  were  worked,  as  a  rule,  on  small  farms,  and 
their  treatment  was  milder,  as  was  customary,  than  on  farms 
where  there  were  large  cotton  plantations  governed  by  cruel 
overseers.  Some  of  them,  strange  to  say,  were  imported  from 
the  North.  Eastern  North  Carolina  was  thickly  peopled  with 
slaves.  Some  landlords  owned  as  many  as  two  thousand. 
They  were  employed  to  work  small  cotton  plantations,  pro 
ducing  rice  and  cereals  found  in  the  eastern  part  of  this  State. 

TREATMENT  OF  SLAVES  IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA. — Owing  to  the 
peculiar  fitness  of  the  soil  for  the  production  of  rice  and  cot 
ton,  slave  labor  was  in  great  demand  and  under  it  the  colony 
prospered  marvelously.  Negroes  were  imported  here  from 
Africa  by  the  thousands,  and  here  it  was,  perhaps,  the  harsh 
ness  and-  cruelty  of  slavery  reached  its  maximum. 

TREATMENT  OF  SLAVES  IN  GEORGIA, — It  was  a  long  time 
before  the  trustees  of  this  colony  would  consent  to  allow  slav 
ery.  Finding  it  impossible  to  proceed  without  it,  the  trustees 
finally  relented  and  slaves  were  introduced  in  large  numbers. 
As  usual,  prosperity  came  with  its  introduction,  and  the 
Negroes  changed  the  richness  of  the  soil  into  silver  and  gold 
and  made  Georgia  one  of  the  proudest  of  the  colonies.  Cotton 
plantations  became  numerous  under  the  system,  and  the  slaves 
were  experts  in  its  cultivation.  Sugar-cane  and  rice  were 
also  raised  in  abundance.  Georgia  gradually  treated  her  slaves 
with  greater  harshness,  as  the  fear  of  their  leaving  increased. 


36  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  III 
SLAVERY  IN  NORTH  AND  SOUTH 

SLAVERY  IN  THE  NORTH. — History  conclusively  proves  the 
abolition  in  the  North  was  more  a  commercial  than  a  humane 
consideration.  There  being  but  little  labor  for  the  slave  to 
perform,  the  New  Englanders  being  hearty  and  thrifty,  and 
the  women  accustomed  to  doing  work,  the  use  that  could  be 
made  of  the  slave  was  very  limited,  and  this,  coupled  with  the 
sentiment  of  the  abolitionists,  who  were  opposed  to  slavery 
from  a  humanitarian  standpoint,  brought  about  its  abolition. 
The  slave  gradually  drifted  to  the  South,  where  better  use 
could  be  made  of  his  unskilled  labor.  Candor  compels  us  to 
acknowledge  that  the  North  shifted  the  problem  from  its 
own  soil  and  planted  it  in  the  South,  by  selling  to  the  South  a 
large  number  of  their  Negro  slaves. 

SLAVERY  IN  THE  SOUTH. — Those  reading  the  horrors  of 
"Uncle  Tom's  Cabin"  will  look  upon  slavery  as  did  the  old 
abolitionists,  that  it  was  the  sum  of  all  iniquity,  yet  frank 
ness  compels  a  fair  historian  to  say  that  upon  many  a  South 
ern  plantation  the  Negroes  were  treated  in  the  kindest  pos 
sible  way.  They  were  instructed  in  the  tenets  of  Christian 
religion,  frequently  given  opportunities  to  learn  to  read,  cared 
for  in  sickness  and  health,  and,  in  fact,  many  of  them  were 
better  cared  for  than  if  they  were  living  upon  their  own 
responsibility.  On  the  other  hand,  many  were  treated  with 
great  harshness,  depending  no  longer  upon  the  kindhearted- 
ness  of  their  masters,  but  the  whim  of  the  overseer  who  hap 
pened  to  be  employed  upon  the -plantation. 

SLAVES  IN  VIRGINIA. — Virginia  was  settled  by  the  Cavaliers, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  37 

who  were  unused  to  manual  labor,  and  who  expected  to  accu 
mulate  vast  fortunes  in  this  new  country  and  go  back  to  Eng 
land  to  live.  When  they  finally  decided  to  make  their  homes 
in  this  country,  they  lived  like  lords  upon  old  Southern  plan 
tations,  and  the  care  of  the  farm,  in  a  great  measure,  was  left 
in  the  hands  of  the  overseers,  many  of  whom  were  cruel  and 
relentless.  Frequently  the  Negroes  themselves  were  made 
overseers  upon  these  plantations,  and  just  as  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers,  who  came  to  Plymouth  Rock,  that  they  might  enjoy 
religious  liberty,  most  persistently  denied  this  liberty  to  others 
and  were  the  cruel  oppressors  of  every  other  faith,  so  these 
Negro  overseers,  having  felt  the  force  of  the  lash  themselves, 
frequently  took  great  delight  in  laying  it  upon  others.  What 
shall  we  teach  our  children?  It  is  not  for  us  to  linger  over 
the  horrors  of  this  time ;  it  is  not  for  us  to  cavil  and  to  blame. 
Human  nature  is  the  same  under  all  conditions,  and  enlight 
ened  sentiment  everywhere  is  unanimous  in  its  condemnation 
of  human  slavery.  The  North  as  well  as  the  SoutK,  the  blacks 
as  well  as  the  whites,  rejoice  that  it  is  a  thing  of  the  past,  and 
our  hope  and  prayer  is  that,  united  with  all  good  men  of  every 
race  and  every  locality,  we  may  step  together  to  the  march  of 
the  music  of  progress. 

OLD  MISTRESS. — There  must  have  been  rejoicing  among, 
the  angels  as  they  watched  the  order  of  creation.  When  God 
made  the  world  they  took  down  their  harps  from  the  willow ; 
when  he  created  man,  to  rule  and  control  the  world,  they  tuned 
the  strings ;  but  when  he  made  woman  and  brought  her  forth 
in  her  pristine  loveliness,  to  be  the  helper  and  companion  of 
man,  the  angels  struck  their  harps,  because  they  felt  that  God 
Himself  would  do  no  better  work.  Let  us  pause  to  pay  a 
tribute  to  the  old  mistress  on  a  Southern  plantation,  who,  at 


; 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


39 


all  times,  day  and  night,  was  willing  to  listen  to  the  cry  and 
administer  to  the  wants  of  the  Negroes  on  the  Southern  plan 
tations,  and  to  such  as  she  heaven  awards  its  brightest  crown. 

FUGITIVE  SLAVES. — It  must  be  remembered  that  many  of 
the  slaves  brought  to  this  country  were  sons  of  African  kings 
and  princesses,  skilled  in  war  and  breathing  the  pure  air  of 
liberty.  While  cowed  by  slavery  the  spirit  was  never  broken, 
and  the  number  of  hair-breadth  escapes  that  these  Negroes 
made  for  life  and  liberty  would  fill  a  volume  twice  the  size 
of  this.  "The  Underground  Railroad,  by  William  Still,  will 
be  found  profitable  reading  for  all  who  are  interested  (and 
all  are)  in  this  phase  of  the  question.  The  "Life  and  Times 
of  Frederick  Douglass"  will  also  furnish  valuable  informa 
tion. 

UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD  STATIONS. — By  the  underground 
railroad  is  meant  the  numerous  devices  by  which  the  Negroes 
were  aided  in  making  their  escape  from  slavery  to  liberty. 
All  along  the  railroad  from  the  South  to  Canada  were  found 
men  who  were  willing  to  aid  them  in  their  escape.  Each  house 
was  known  as  a  station  and  by  some  undefined  telegraphy, 
every  Negro  knew  just  where  to  go  to  find  aid  and  succor 
when  fleeing  for  deliverance. 

THE  DRED  SCOTT  DECISION. — The  decision  by  Judge  Taney 
in  the  case  of  Dred  Scott,  that  he  be  restored  to  his  master, 
in  which  he  used  the  strange  words  that,  "the  Negro  had  no 
right  which  the  white  man  was  bound  to  respect,"  hastened 
the  culmination  of  the  institution  of  human  slavery.  The 
South  having  invested  their  money  in  property  frequently 
bought  from  people  of  the  North,  felt  they  had  a  right  to 
retain  their  slaves,  especially  since  the  Constitution  itself 
recognized  slavery  by  stating  that  "four-fifths  of  all  other 


40  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

persons"  should  be  taxable.  This  caused  the  South  to  feel 
that  they  were  keeping  within  their  rights,  and  even  so'great 
an  abolitionist  as  William  Lloyd  Garrison  was  compelled  to 
admit  that  the  Constitution  allowed  slavery  by  implication,  if 
not  by  exact  words. 

SLAVERY  IN  THE  TERRITORIES. — The  Supreme  Court  de 
cided  that  the  Southern  people  had  a  right  to  take  their  slaves 
into  the  newly  acquired  territories,  and  that  such  slaves,  taken 
into  such  territory,  were  as  much  the  property  of  their  owners 
as  when  in  their  native  country.  This  decision  was  combatted 
by  the  abolitionists  and  the  people  of  the  North,  who,  having 
once  rid  their  territory  of  slaves,  desired  to  keep  it  forever 
free.  This  necessarily  led  to  a  breach  of  good  feeling  between 
the  people  of  the  North  and  the  South,  and  as  slavery  increased 
and  escapes  became  more  frequent,  this  feeling  was  intensified. 

ESCAPE  OF  THE  SLAVES. — In  making  their  escape  the  slaves 
were  frequently  pursued  by  bloodhounds,  who  would  track 
them  by  their  scent.  Sometimes  infuriated  and  maddened 
slaves,  brought  to  bay  by  these  animals,  would  kill  them  with 
sticks  and  clubs,  and  whatever  was  most  convenient,  yet  many 
made  their  escape  for  freedom,  and  some  to-day  live  to  tell 
their  children  of  the  marvelous  guidance  of  Divine  Providence 
in  bringing  them  to  the  much-coveted  liberty. 

JAMES  SUMMERSET. — In  1771,  Charles  Stewart,  of  Boston, 
took  his  slave,  James  Summerset,  to  London,  where  the  latter 
fell  sick  and  was  sent  adrift.  Stewart,  after  finding  Summer 
set  recovered,  reclaimed  him  and  put  him  on  a  ship  on  the 
Thames,  bound  for  Jamaica.  Lord  Mansfield  issued  a  writ 
of  habeas  corpus  and  decided,  June  22,  1772,  that  the  master 
could  not  compel  his  slave  to  leave  England,  "whose  laws  did 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  41 

not  recognize  50  high  an  act  of  dominion."  This  same  law 
applied  to  Canada,  and  thus  the  objective  point  of  the  fugutive 
slave  was  always  the  dominion  of  the  English  Jack. 

BLACK  LAWS. — The  penal  laws  of  the  slave  States  had  a 
very  potent  influence  upon  the  legislation  of  some  of  the  free 
States,  particularly  where  there  was  a  large  Southern  immi 
gration.  In  1803,  Ohio  forbade  colored  people  to  settle  in  the 
State  without  recording  a  certificate  of  their  freedom,  and  in 
1807,  passed  an  act  denying  the  colored  people  the  privilege 
of  testifying  in  cases  in  which  white  men  were  interested  on 
either  side,  excluded  them  from  public  schools  and  required 
them  to  give  bond  for  their  good  behavior  while  residing  in 
the  State.  In  1849  these  black  laws  were  repealed  as  a  part 
of  the  bargain  between  the  Democrats  and  the  Free  Soilers. 
Illinois,  in  1819,  1827*  and  1853  imitated  Ohio,  and  Indiana,  in 
1851,  made  similar  provisions,  which  the  State  Court,  in 
1866,  held  to  be  void.  Iowa,  in  1851,  Oregon,  in  1857,  did  the 
same;  Indiana,  1816;  Illinois,  1818;  Iowa,  1846;  Michigan, 
1850;  and  Kansas,  1859,  excluded  colored  people  from  their 
States. 

NEGRO  INSURRECTIONS. — No  enslaved  race  has  organized  so 
few  insurrections  as  the  colored  race  in  the  United  States; 
not  only  on  account  of  cowardice,  as  will  be  shown  later  on; 
not  wholly  due  to  the  affection  of  the  slave  for  their  masters, 
but  we  believe  that  the  race  has  imbibed  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  something  of  its  respect  for  law  and  the  natural  respect 
which  a  subjugated  race  must  hold  for  one  by  whom  it  has 
been  enslaved.  In  1710,  one  was  planned  in  Virginia,  which 
was  frustrated  by  being  revealed  by  one  of  the  conspirators, 
who  was  rewarded  with  emancipation.  In  1740,  a  local  in 
surrection  broke  out  in  South  Carolina,  which  was  instantly 


42  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

stamped  out  by  the  militia.  In  1741,  a  plot  was  unearthed  in 
New  York,  and  during  the  popular  excitement  a  number  of 
Negroes  and  whites  were  hanged  and  several  Negroes  burned. 
In  1820,  Denmark  Vesey,  a  San  Domingo  mulatto,  organized 
an  insurrection  in  Charleston.  Vesey  and  thirty-four  others 
were  hanged  and  a  like  number  was  sold  out  of  the  State.  In 
August,  1831,  the  most  formidable  of  all  the  insurrections 
broke  out  in  Southampton  County,  near  Norfolk,  Va.,  led 
by  Nat  Turner.  This  was  at  once  suppressed  and  Turner 
was  captured  after  several  weeks'  concealment,  and  executed. 
Thirty-one  whites  and  over  one  hundred  colored  persons  were 
killed.  These,  with  a  few  others,  constitute  the  sum  total  of 
Negro  insurrections. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  43 

CHAPTER  IV 
THE  NEGRO  AS  A  SOLDIER 

Man  in  society,  to  be  worthy  of  serious  consideration,  must 
contribute  to  the  general  good,  patriotism  and  defence  of  his 
country. 

"Breathes  there  a  man  with  a  soul  so  dead, 
Who  never  to  himself  hath  said, 

This  is  my  own,  my  native  land?" 

The  world  has  admired  military  heroes  from  the  days  of 
Greece  and  Rome  until  the  present  day.  War  thus  far  has 
made  more  heroes  than  have  ever  been  found  in  the  paths  of 
peace.  This  is  not  always  the  highest  test,  but  in  the  early 
history  of  man,  when  fighting  was  the  practical  business  of 
life,  it  was  one  of  the  most  tangible.  The  Negro  admires 
heroism  in  common  with  all  other  races. 

NEGROES  HAVE  ERECTED  FEW  MONUMENTS  OF  ANY  KIND. — 

One  to  Emmet  Scott,  a  prominent  soldier,  and  another  to 
"Tom'''  Mitchell,  the  brother  of  the  editor  of  the  Richmond 
Planet,  constitute  the  total  number  of  public  monuments  in 
the  City  of  Richmond. 

The  government  of  our  country  has  erected  most  of  the 
monuments.  Indeed  the  government  and  the  legislatures  of 
our  various  States  have  been  conspicuous  in  the  erection  of 
the  largest  number  of  monuments,  but  in  this  respect  the 
Negro  has  not  as  yet  been  seriously  considered. 

One  erected  near  Boston  Common,  in  memory  of  Crispus 
Attacks,  and  one  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  honor  of  Frederick 
Douglas,  make  up  the  whole  that  we  can  at  present  recall. 
The  Negro,  as  a  race,  is  not  a  student  of  history,  and  hence 


44  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

has  not  been  deeply  impressed  by  the  valor  of  Negro  arms. 
He  reads  history  more  with  his  head  than  With  his  heart,  and 
is  just  beginning  to  admire  those  who  have  been  the  makers 
of  human  history.  The  Negro  is  naturally  docile.  He  is 
more  docile  than  warlike,  and,  therefore,  has  not  had  a  natural 
tendency  toward  the  erection  of  monuments,  to  those  who,  to 
him,  have  been  engaged  in  rather  unpleasant  occupations : 
that  of  killing  their  fellowmen. 

The  Negro  veteran  as  such  has  never  organized  himself 
thoroughly  and  completely,  and  thus  become  a  nucleus  around 
which  the  people  might  gather  and  erect  monuments.  Sol 
diers  are  not  the  real  leaders  among  the  colored  people.  Among 
the  white  people  the  soldier  has  been  the  real  leader  in  the 
affairs  of  the  nation.  Few  men  have  ever  aspired  to  presi 
dential  honors  without  a  military  record,  and  the  greater  num 
ber  of  Presidents,  from  Washington  to  Taft,  have  been  placed 
into  office  almost  solely  by  virtue  of  their  military  achieve 
ments.  Among  the  Negroes  the  preacher  and  the  teacher, 
men  who  teach  and  preach  good  will  to  mankind,  have  been 
the  great  leaders  in  the  onward  progress  of  the  people,  yet  the 
Negro  is  a  soldier.  Notwithstanding  these  drawbacks,  the 
Negro  has  always  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to  engage  in  the 
defence  of  his  common  country.  He  fought  in  the  Colonial 
Wars,  side  by  side  with  the  white  man,  against  the  hostile 
Indians,  who  would  destroy  the  infant  American  civilization 
from  the  face  of  the  earth.  While  their  names  are  lost  forever 
from  the  pages  of  history,  their  deeds  can  never  be  forgotten 
as  long  as  men  admire  military  valor  and  heroic  action. 

NEGRO  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR 

BOSTON  MASSACRE. — The  first  signal  victory  obtained  by 
the  Negroes  from  a  military  standpoint  was  the  sacrifice  of 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  45 

Crispus  Attucks,  upon  the  altar  of  this  country.  He  laid  down 
his  life  in  Boston  Common  in  repelling  an  attack  against  the 
American  people  when  others  dared  not  strike  a  blow.  He 
fell,  and  his  death  cast  everlasting  lustre  upon  the  black  race, 
having  shed  the  first  blood  in  defence  of  the  liberties  of  the 
colonies.  Johnson's  '"History  of  the  Negro  Race"  makes  the 
following  statement:  "Five  thousand  Negroes  are  said  to 
have  fought  on  the  side  of  the  colonies  during  the  Revolution. 
Many  of  them  were  from  the  Northern  colonies.  There  were 
possibly  50,000  Negroes  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  British, 
and  30,000  of  these  were  from  Virginia." 

Peter  Salem  killed  Major  Pitcairn  at  the  Battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  and  thus  saved  the  day.  Primus  Hall  gave  up  his  bed 
to  General  Washington,  who  insisted  on  sharing  it  with  the 
humble  Negro.  A  colored  artilleryman  at  Bunker  Hill  fought 
with  one  arm  shot  away  until  killed  by  the  bullets  of  the  Brit 
ish.  Prince,  a  Negro,  captured  Colonel  Prescott,  at  Newport, 
R.  I.,  and  Colonel  Barton  presented  him  with  his  sword  in 
honor  of  the  valiant  deed.  Peter  Whipple,  a  body-guard,  can 
be  seen  in  the  picture  of  Washington  crossing  the  Delaware, 
and  did  valiant  service  for  the  army.  L.  Latham,  at  Fort 
Grotam.  Connecticut,  killed  a  British  officer  who  had  run  his 
sword  through  Colonel  Ledyard,  and  then  fell,  pierced  by 
thirty-three  British  musket  balls.  John  Freeman  pinned  Major 
Montgomery  to  the  ground  at  Fort  Griswold,  N.  J.,  and  was 
set  free  and  given  a  pension  by  his  master  for  this  heroic 
deed.  Samuel  Charlton  was  publicly  complimented  by  Gen 
eral  Washington  for  his  bravery  at  the  Battle  of  Monmouth ; 
and  James  Armi stead,  a  scout  for  Lafayette,  in  Virginia,  was 
set  free  by  a  special  act  of  the  Virginia  Legislature.  These 
are  some  of  the  many  heroes  whose  names  are  known  to 
fame,  but  of  whom  the  world  seldom  speaks.  May  ours  be 


46  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

the  race  to  rescue  these  names  from  almost  entire  oblivion, 
and  in  bronze  and  marble,  give  to  them  the  glory  they  so 
richly  deserve. 

FEELING  AMONG  GENERALS  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR 
FOR  COLORED  SOLDIERS. — General  Lafayette  said  in  a  letter  to 
Colonel  Clarkson:  "I  would  never  have  drawn  my  sword  in 
the  cause  of  America,  if  I  could  have  been  convinced  that 
thereby  I  was  founding  a  land  of  slavery."  On  his  visit  to 
America  in  1825,  he  desired  to  see  the  Negro  soldiers  who 
fought  with  him  for  the  liberties  of  America.  He  himself, 
wanting  to  put  in  practice  his  anti-slavery  ideas,  bought  a 
plantation  in  French  Guiana,  and  gradually  freed  slaves  by 
giving  them  one  day  a  week,  collecting  the  weapons,  etc.,  used 
in  their  punishment,  and  burned  them  as  a  protest  against 
the  institution. 

Kosciusko  expressed  sorrow  that  the  colored  soldiers  of  the 
Revolution  were  not  to  be  freed,  and  left  $20,000  in  the 
hands  of  Thomas  Jefferson  to  be  used  in  educating  colored 
children.  General  George  Washington  set  his  own  slaves  free 
by  his  last  will  and  testament,  and  many  others  did  likewise. 
The  Northern  colonies  generally  freed  the  slaves  who  fought 
in  the  Revolution.  Virginia  passed  an  act  in  1783  emancipat 
ing  all  slaves  who  fought  on  the  American  side  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  Many  individual  slaves  were  emancipated  by 
special  acts  of  the  legislatures. 

REWARDS  OF  THE  HEROES  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. — Monu 
ments  innumerable  have  been  erected  to  white  soldiers  who 
fought  in  the  Revolution.  Only  a  few  kind  words  have  been 
said  for  the  colored  soldiers,  but  their  monuments,  in  the 
great  majority  of  cases,  have  been  chains  and  slavery,  but  with 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE 


47 


the  blessed  assurance  that  He  who  never  slumbers  nor  sleeps 
will  reward  them  in  His  own  good  time;  for 

Right  is  right, 

As  God  is  God, 
And  right  the  day  must  win, 

To  doubt  would  be  disloyalty, 
To  falter  would  be  sin. 

But  undeterred,  undismayed  by  the  results  that  came  to 
him  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  history  finds  him  again 
ready  to  bear  arms  in  defence  of  his  country  in  the  War  of 
1812. 


48  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  V 
THE  NEGRO  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

The  cause  leading  up  to  the  War  of  1812  is  well  known  to 
every  school  boy.  The  suppression  of  American  sailors, 
claiming  them  as  British  subjects  was  the  immediate  cause 
leading  up  to  the  second  war  between  this  country  and  the 
mother  country,  England.  Strange  to  relate,  of  the  three 
persons  taken  from  the  Chesapeake,  as  English  subjects,  one 
Negro  was  found  in  the  party.  Free  Negroes  were  freely 
enlisted  in  the  war,  thcugh  slaves  were  not  allowed  to  do  so. 
Four  hundred  Negroes  rre  recorded  as  fighting  in  the  Battle 
of  New  Orleans,  and  a  Negro  is  said  to  have  suggested  the 
idea  of  defence  by  mean  5  of  bales  of  cotton,  having  learned  it 
in  Africa.  Mr.  D.  Le<  Child  gives  a  manuscript  to  prove 
this  fact :  One-fifth  of  .he  marines  were  Negroes,  and  Com 
mander  vShaler  says:  "A'ly  officers  conducted  themselves  in 
a  way  that  would  have  done  honor  to  a  more  permanent  ser 
vice.  The  name  of  one  rf  my  poor  fellows  who  was  killed 
ought  to  be  registered  in  the  book  of  fame  and  remembered 
with  reverence  as  long  as  bravery  is  a  virtue.  He  was  a  black 
man  by  the  name  of  Jchn  Johnson.  A  twenty-four-pound 
shot  struck  him  in  the  hip  and  took  away  all  of  the  lower 
part  of  his  body.  In  thir.  state  the  poor,  brave  fellow  lay  on 
the  deck,  and  several -times  exclaimed  to  his  shipmates:  Tire 
away,  my  boys,  do  not  h#  ul  a  color  down !'  The  other  was  a 
black  man  by  the  name  of  John  Davis,  and  was  struck  in 
much  the  same  way.  He  fell  near  me,  and  several  times  re 
quested  to  be  thrown  overboard,  saying  he  was  only  in  the  way 
of  others.  Wliile  America  has  such  tars,  she  has  little  to  fear 
from  the  tyrants  of  the  ocean." 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  49 

Major  Jeffreys  rallied  the  retreating  Americans,  and  was 
made  a  general  by  Andrew  Jackson.  He  lived  in  Nashville 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  respected  by  all.  A  sad  occur 
rence  marks  the  closing  period  of  this  brave  Negro :  insulted  by 
a  white  ruffian  in  his  native  city,  he  struck  him  to  the  ground, 
and,  notwithstanding  the  justice  of  his  cause,  he  was  sen 
tenced  to  receive  thirty-nine  lashes,  and  this  humiliation  broke 
his  proud  heart.  Jordan  Noble,  a  veteran  of  the  War  of  1812, 
died  at  New  Orleans.  This  Negro  was  also  a  drummer  dur 
ing  the  Mexican  War,  and  was  known  far  and  wide  in  the 
army  as  the  "Matchless  Drummer."  Many  more  names 
might  be  brought  forward,  but  these  will  be  amply  sufficient 
to  prove  the  Negro's  case;  that  he  was  ever  found  on  the 
side  of  his  country  defending  her  honor. 


50  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  VI 
THE  NEGRO  IN  THE  MEXICAN  WAR 

The  part  taken  by  the  Negro  in  the  Mexican  War  is  neces 
sarily  very  limited.  There  are  reasons  for  this,  which  must 
prove  entirely  satisfactory  to  any  fair-minded  individual. 
First,  the  war  lasted  but  a  short  time,  and  the  remarkable 
victories  of  a  handful  of  American  soldiers  over  the  great 
hordes  of  Mexicans,  made  the  war,  in  fact,  rather  much  of  a 
farce.  The  Mexicans  were  so  easily  conquered  that  some 
of  the  victories  of  the  Americans  were  actually  ridiculous. 
Again,  the  Americans  were  fighting  in  a  hostile  country,  and 
there  was  little  need  for  the  digging  of  trenches,  the  throwing 
up  of  embankments,  and  other  forms  of  labor  where  the 
Negro  had  hitherto  proven  himself  so  valuable.  Again,  the 
people  of  the  Southern  States  did  the  greater  part  of  the  fight 
ing,  and  they  were  rather  opposed  to  the  Negro  taking  a  more 
prominent  part  in  any  battle  than  that  of  waiting  on  his 
master,  yet  many  Negro  soldiers  were  found  in  this  war  acting 
as  bodyguards  for  their  masters,  and  in  this  humble  capacity 
performed  most  valuable  service. 

The  fact  of  the  Negro's  splendid  record  in  all  of  the  wars 
of  his  country,  from  the  colonial  period  until  the  Mexican 
War,  in  1845,  naturally  resulted  in  bringing  about  his  freedom. 
A  man,  who  has  once  been  a  good  sofdier,  can  never  more 
be  readily  enslaved.  True  the  Negro  raised  few  rebellions, 
as  has  already  been  stated,  but  his  helplessness  and  lack  of 
leadership  was,  in  a  great  measure,  the  cause.  Obstreperous 
Negroes  were  whipped  into  submission,  and  when  this  did  not 
suffice,  they  were  sold  further  down  South,  where  their  rest 
lessness  would  be  able  to  do  but  little  harm,  yet  the  few  in- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  51 

surrections  recorded  caused  the  South  to  be  constantly  under 
patrol.  The  Negro  had  now  become  an  object  of  suspicion. 
Many  of  them  had  become  exceedingly  anxious  to  see  slavery 
a  thing  of  the  past.  After  the  Southampton  Insurrection, 
many  pepple  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  wished  to  have 
their  slaves  removed,  that  they  might  be  relieved  of  the  ter 
rible  fear,  and  yet  there  is  no  man  living  but  must  confess  that 
the  Providence  of  God  was  overruling  events  to  the  great 
good  of  the  Negro  of  this  country. 


52  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  VII 
WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  to  every  individual  of  any  degree  of 
intelligence  that  the  War  between  the  States  was  not  started 
primarily  for  the  abolition  of  slavery.  The  North  and  the 
South  always  had  fundamental  differences  which  operated  to 
separate  the  one  from  the  other. 

FUNDAMENTAL  DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN  THE  NORTH  AND 
THE  SOUTH. — Perhaps  the  most  prominent  of  these  was  the 
question  of  tariff.  The  North  early  in  its  history  became  an 
industrial  center,  copying  the  example  of  the  mother  country, 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  thrift  and  enterprise.  It  early  began 
to  manufacture  goods  for  its  own  consumption.  It  is  true 
many  of  these  were  crude,  but  Yankee  ingenuity  soon  found 
a  way,  and  the  North  early  became  the  center  of  the  manu 
facturing  interest.  Her  productions  being  crude  and  her 
labor  unskilled,  it  was  naturally  difficult  for  her  to  compete 
with  England  in  the  manufacturing  industry.  People  in  Eng 
land  could  manufacture  their  goods  in  the  mother  country, 
send  them  to  America  and  sell  them  at  a  lower  price  than 
the  American  manufactured  article,  and  yet  make  a  good 
profit.  To  be  able  to  meet  this  competition  the  North  soon 
clamored  for  a  protective  tariff,  and  having  great  influence 
upon  the  central  government,  their  wishes  were  naturally 
recognized.  The  South,  on  the  other  hand,  was  a  farming 
and  agricultural  center.  She  manufactured  comparatively 
few  goods,  and  was  anxious  to  secure  articles  from  England 
at  the  most  reasonable  rate.  This  fundamental  difference 
between  the  North  and  the  South  soon  engendered  a  feeling 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  53 

of  bitterness,  and  the  question  of  high  and  low  tariff  assumed 
national  importance.  The  North  and  the  South  always  dif 
fered  in  their  ideas  of  government.  A  large  number  of  for 
eigners  had  immigrated  to  the  Northern  States.  These,  hav 
ing  little  vState  interest  and  comparatively  little  State  pride, 
soon  became  a  menace  to  the  new  public.  They  had  come  to 
accumulate  wealth  and  go  back  to  their  country  to  spend  it  on 
themselves;  while  the  handy  pioneers  had  come  for  religious 
liberty  and  to  make  for  themselves  a  country.  The  North, 
therefore,  was  in  favor  of  strong  central  government,  while 
the  South  believed  in  the  right  of  the  States.  This  question 
of  State  rights  ultimately  brought  on  the  war  between  the 
different  sections  of  our  common  country.  As  has  been  said 
before,  the  question  of  slavery  naturally  entered  very  largely 
into  the  accentuating  differences  between  the  North  and  the 
South. 

SLAVERY  QUESTION. — The  slaves  of  the  North,  having  but 
little  to  do,  were  sold  into  the  South,  and  thus  the  base  of 
contention  was  changed  from  one  section  to  another.  The 
Dred  Scott  decision,  in  which  Judge  Taney  declared  "The 
Negro  had  no  right  which  the  white  man  was  bound  to  respect," 
so  stirred  up  the  ambitions  of  the  North  that  the  question 
of  the  elimination  of  this  disturbing  element  became  simply  a 
question  of  time. 

CONTRIBUTING  CAUSE  TO  THE  WAR. — The  influence  of  the 
Quakers,  who  were  bitterly  opposed  to  human  slavery,  the 
writing  of  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  by  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe, 
together  with  the  fiery  speeches,  made  all  over  this  country 
by  Lovejoy,  Douglas,  Wendell  Philips,  Charles  Sumner  and 
others  brought  matters  to  a  crisis. 

FIRST   GUN   FIRED. — The  firing  on   Fort   Sumter  by  the 


54  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Confederates,  under  General  Beauregard,  was  the  first  open 
act  of  hostility,  though  the  sending  of  troops  to  reinforce 
Fort  Sumter,  without  the  consent  of  the  State  authorities  of 
South  Carolina,  and  contrary  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  was  no  doubt  the  contributing  cause  of  the  firing  on 
Fort  Sumter;  and  though  the  South  actually  began  the  war, 
the  North  no  doubt  was  the  cause  of  this  open  act  on  the  part 
of  the  Confederate  Government. 

NOT  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. — It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this 
book  to  give  a  history  of  the  War  between  the  States,  but 
simply  to  give  the  part  taken  by  the  Negroes  in  this  struggle, 
fraught  with  such  stupendous  consequences.  The  records  of 
the  War  Department  show  that  there  were  178,595  Negroes 
engaged  in  the  War  between  the  States  on  the  side  of  the 
Federals,  while  6,000  were  found  on  the  Confederate  side, 
digging  trenches,  driving  ammunition  wagons,  and  per-* 
forming  other  forms  of  manual  labor.  The  first  sugges 
tion  for  the  Negro  soldiers  to  aid  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  war  was  made  by  General  Hunter,  June,  1862,  and 
Negroes  were  used  by  him  without  the  authority  of  the 
War  Department.  He  claimed  to  have  received  his  authority 
from  the  fact  that  he  was  instructed  to  "enlist  all  loyal 
persons  on  the  side  of  the  Union,"  and  he,  believing 
the  Negro  to  be  the  only  loyal  men  of  the  Union  in  the  South, 
took  upon  himself  to  enlist  them  in  the  service  of  the  country. 
These  Negroes,  who  were  used  on  the  Southern  side  as  cooks, 
bodyguards,  drivers,  etc.,  were  highly  spoken  of  by  Southern 
commanders.  The  South  felt  called  upon  to  use  them  in  self- 
defence  ;  for  as  a  Negro  puts  it,  "Massa  watch  Yankee,  Nigger 
go ;  Massa  watch  Nigger,  Yankee  come."  When  President 
Lincoln  called  for  75,000  troops  to  suppress  the  "rebellion"  in 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  55 

the  South,  too  strong  for  the  ordinary  army,  it  was  understood 
that  uno  Negroes  need  apply."  McClellan  agreed  to  this 
proposition,  and 

"McClellan  came  to  Richmond, 

Some  fifty  thousand  strong, 
To  keep  back  the  niggers; 

The  Union  he  would  save. 
McClellan  was  defeated, 

\Yith  the  Union  men  so  brave, 
And  wanted  all  the  help 

From  the  colored  volunteers." 

General  Phelps  advocated  the  enlistment  of  Negro  soldiers. 
It  was  at  that  time  opposed  by  General  Butler,  who  finally 
became  one  of  the  strongest  advocates  for  their  enlistment. 
Finally,  Congress  authorized  it  when  the  Union  men  saw  what 
good  use  the  South  was  making  of  them. 

NEGROES  IN  THE  NAVY. — In  the  navy  it  was  entirely  dif 
ferent.  Here  Negroes  were  readily  accepted,  and  large  num 
bers  were  found  in  this  branch  of  the  service. 

THE  FIRST  OFFICIAL  AUTHORITY. — The  first  official  author 
ity  was  issued  by  General  Rufus  Saxton,  with  the  understand 
ing  that  there  was  to  be  a  discrimination  in  the  pay  of  the 
Negro  soldiers,  who  were  to  receive  $10  per  month,  while  the 
whites  received  $13.  In  Massachusetts  the  pay  was  even 
lower.  The  Fifty-Fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment  refused  to 
receive  the  $7  per  month  offered  them,  and  the  authorities 
were  forced  to  pay  them  the  same  as  whites. 

COMMANDERS  OF  NEGRO  SOLDIERS. — General  Banks  declared, 
"It  gives  me  pleasure  to  say  they  answered  every  expectation ; 
their  conduct  was  heroic."  Colonel  Shaw  commanded  the 


56  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

First  Colored  Regiment  organized  in  the  North,  the  Fifty- 
fourth  Massachusetts,  and  is  loud  in  praise  of  their  courage 
and  patriotism.  General  Smith  said,  "The  hardest  fighting  in 
the  battle  was  done  by  the  Negro  soldiers,"  and  he  went  over 
personally  to  thank  them.  Adjutant-General  Thomas  paid 
them  a  high  compliment  in  his  report  to  the  War  Depart 
ment.  General  S.  C.  Armstrong,  the  great  founder  of  the 
Hampton  Normal  School,  speaks  of  their  quick  response  to 
good  treatment,  tidiness,  and  devotion  to  duty.  He  speaks 
of  their  dash  and  daring  in  battle  and  their  ambition  to  im 
prove  themselves.  That  splendid  institution,  the  Hampton 
Normal  and  Agricultural  Institute,  is,  no  doubt,  the  result  of 
the  favorable  impression  made  upon  that  great  and  good  man 
by  the  colored  troops  whom  he  commanded  for  two  and  one- 
half  years. 

BATTLES  IN  WHICH  THE  NEGROES  WERE  ENGAGED  AND 
HEROES  OF  THE  WAR. — Port  Hudson,  May  27,  1863,  Captain 
Callioux,  a  brave  Negro,  was  killed,  and  Sergeant  Anselmas 
Planiacois  said  to  Colonel  Nelson,  "I  will  bring  back  these 
colors  in  honor,  or  report  to  God  the  reason  why,"  and  he 
fell,  grasping  the  staff.  Corporal  Heath  took  it  up,  a  musket 
ball  pierced  his  body,  and  he  fell  across  the  body  of  Planian- 
cois. 

MILIKEN'S  BEND,  JUNE  16,  1863. — In  this  battle  no  quarter 
was  to  be  given  to  the  Negro,  and  in  this  furious  charge  1,000 
were  killed  and  500  wounded.  The  Negroes  felt  themselves 
on  trial  and  did  their  best  to  prove  their  worthiness. 

FORT  WAGNER,  CHARLESTON,  S.  C. — It  was  in  this  great 
battle  that  the  famous  words  were  spoken  by  Sergeant  Carney 
as  he  came  bleeding  to  the  tents,  "Boys,  the  old  flag  never 
touched  the  ground." 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  57 

FORT  PILLOW. — In  this  battle  557  Federals  were  killed,  262 
being  colored.  They  made  a  stout  resistance,  but  were  de 
feated  by  overwhelming  numbers. 

BATTLE  OF  THE  CRATER,  AT  PETERSBURG. — In  this  battle 
what  little  success  can  be  attributed  to  the  Union  Army,  after 
their  fatal  blunder,  was  no  doubt  due  to  the  heroism  of  the 
Negro  soldiers,  commanded  by  General  Burnside.  These 
Negroes  were  driven  into  the  burning  crater  to  fearful  slaugh 
ter,  after  the  white  soldiers  had  refused  to  advance. 

RODMAN'S  POINT. — It  was  here  these  words  were  used  by  a 
Negro  soldier  when  the  danger  point  was  to  be  attacked,  and 
death  was  staring  in  the  face  the  one  who  had  volunteered  to 
do  it,  "somebody  has  got  to  do  it,  might  as  well  be  me." 

So,  while  it  may  be  claimed  by  the  soldiers  of  the  North 
that  they  gave  to  us  the  blessed  boon  of  emancipation,  yet  we 
think  it  can  be  justly  claimed  that  the  Negro,  by  his  valor, 
wrought  out  his  own  salvation. 


58  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  VIII 
RESUME  OF  THE  WAR  AND  EMANCIPATION  OF  THE  NEGRO 

Forty  and  six  years  have  passed  away  since  the  surren 
der  of  General  Lee  at  Appomattox  Courthouse,  and  the  real 
emancipation  of  the  Negroes  of  this  country.  Sufficient  time 
has  elapsed  for  us  to  look  dispassionately  at  the  war  and 
philosophically  at  its  result.  Both  the  North  and  the  South 
now  see  clearly  that  Negro  slavery  was  a  curse  to  both  sec 
tions  of  the  country,  and  that  emancipation  was  the  very  best 
thing  that  could  possibly  have  happened,  both  for  the  Negro 
and  for  the  white  man.  While  emancipation  has  not  brought 
to  the  Negro  all  the  things  of  which  he  so  fondly  dreamed,  it 
has  at  least  taught  him  this  fact,  that  "one  who  would  be 
free  himself  must  strike  the  blow,"  and  that  real  emancipa 
tion  is  not  merely  the  throwing  off  of  shackles  which  bind  a 
physical  form,  but  those  which  bind  the  mind  and  heart.  He 
is  slowly,  but  surely,  reaching  out  for  this  new  emancipation, 
and  the  results  of  his  efforts  are,  to  say  the  least,  exceedingly 
encouraging. 

SELF-HELP  THE  BEST. — The  best  help  which  a  man  can 
receive  in  all  this  world  is  an  opportunity  to  help  himself. 
Racial  growth,  like  individual  growth,  must  ultimately  be  the 
result  of  self-effort.  Emancipation  opened  to  the  Negro  an 
opportunity  for  self -development,  and  it  remains  for  him  to 
make  the  most  of  the  opportunity. 

THE  WAR  NOT  STARTED  TO  FREE  THE  SLAVES. — A  few  years 
ago,  practically  all  of  the  Negroes  of  this  country,  and  a  very 
large  per  cent  of  the  white  people,  labored  under  the  mis 
taken  impression  that  the  War  between  the  States  was  started 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  59 

for  the  purpose  of  freeing  the  slaves.  Comparatively  few  in 
telligent  men  and  women  of  the  Negro  race  believe  this  state 
ment  to-day.  As  has  been  said  in  another  place,  it  was  the 
fundamental  differences  between  the  North  and  the  South,  the 
difficulty  of  communication  between  the  two  sections,  the 
question  of  tariff  or  free  trade  that  really  brought  on  the  war. 
Of  course  slavery  was  the  contributing  cause,  but  by  no  means 
the  real  cause. 

MR.  LINCOLN'S  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS. — Mr.  Lincoln,  in  his 
inaugural  address,  stated  distinctly  and  positively  that  "he  had 
no  purpose,  inclination  nor  right  to  interfere  with  the  institu 
tion  of  slavery."  He  believed  that  the  Union  was  older  than 
the  States,  and  himself  declared,  "He  was  willing  to  save  the 
Union  with  or  without  slavery." 

CALL  FOR  TROOPS. — In  his  call  for  troops  he  used  these 
words :  "To  suppress  combinations  in  the  seceding  States  too 
powerful  for  the  law  to  contend  with."  At  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  great  masses  of  people  of  the  North  had  no  concep 
tion  that  the  war  would  last  more  than  ninety  days.  They 
believed  the  South  could  be  overpowered  easily  and  forced 
back  into  the  Union,  but  the  taking  from  the  South  of  her 
slaves  was  only  the  dream  of  the  abolitionists.  As  the  war 
progressed  and  purely  as  a  war  measure,  Mr.  Lincoln  issued 
his  Emancipation  Proclamation. 

EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION. — It  will  be  seen  that  the 
proclamation  itself  was  inadequate  to  accomplish  real  emanci 
pation.  It  was  done  to  encourage  the  abolition  party  at  the 
North  and  to  win  recruits  for  the  Northern  army.  It  was 
effective  in  some  parts  of  the  country  and  not  in  others.  It 
was  effective  even  in  some  parts  of  a  State  and  not  in  others : 
Thus  the  Negroes  of  Richmond  were  free,  while  those  of 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  6l 

Norfolk,  Berkley,  Accomac,  Northampton  County,  Elizabeth 
City,  York,  Princess  Anne  and  the  City  of  Portsmouth,  were 
still  slaves.  September,  1862,  after  the  Battle  of  Sharpesburg 
or  Antietam,  President  Lincoln  notified  the  Confederacy  that 
unless  they  returned  to  the  Union  in  one  hundred  days,  he 
would  declare  their  slaves  forever  free.  It  can  be  seen  from 
this  very  statement  that  had  the  South  returned  to  the  Union 
in  the  prescribed  one  hundred  days,  they  could  have  returned 
with  their  slaves,  the  war  would  have  ended  and  the  Negro 
yet  a  slave. 

THE  TEXT  OF  THE  PROCLAMATION. — The  South  having  paid 
no  attention  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  threat,  he,  on  January  i,  1863, 
issued  the  following  proclamation : 

"Whereas,  on  the  22cl  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand,  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  a  proclamation  was  issued 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  containing,  among  other  things, 
the  following,  to-wit : 

"That,  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand,  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves 
within  any  State  or  any  designated  part  of  a  State,  the  people  whereof 
shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  shall  be  then, 
henceforward,  and  forever,  free;  and  the  Executive  Government  of 
the  United  States,  including  the  military  and  naval  force  thereof, 
will  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  such  persons,  and  will 
do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons,  or  any  of  them,  in  any 
effort  they  may  make  for  their  actual  freedom;  that  the  Executive 
will,  on  the  first  day  of  January  aforesaid,  by  proclamation,  designate 
the  States  and  parts  of  States,  if  any,  in  which  the  people  therein 
respectively  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States;  and 
the  fact  that  any  State  or  people  thereof  shall  on  that  day  be  in 
good  faith  represented  in  Congress  of  the  United  States  by  members 
chosen  thereto,  at  elections  wherein  the  majority  of  the  qualified 
voters  of  such  States  shall  have  participated,  shall,  in  the  absence  of 
strong  countervailing  testimony,  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence  that 


62  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

such  State  and  the  people  thereof  are  not  then  in  rebellion  against 
the  United  States. 

"Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States,  by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested,  as  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States  in  times  of  actual  rebel 
lion  against  the  authorities  and  Government  of  the  United  States, 
and  as  a  fit  and  necessary  war  measure  for  suppressing  this  rebellion, 
do  on  this,  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand,  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  afcid  in  accordance  with  my 
purpose  so  to  do,  publicly  proclaimed  for  the  full  period  of  one 
hundred  days  from  the  date  of  the  first  above-mentioned  order, 
designate  as  the  States  and  parts  of  States  wherein  the  people  thereof, 
respectively,  are  this  day  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States.  The 
following,  to- wit : 

"Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia, 
South  Carolina,  North  Carolina  and  Virginia. 

"Louisiana  (except  the  parishes  of  Placquemines,  St.  Mary,  Jef 
ferson,  St.  John,  St.  Charles,  St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption, 
Terre  Bonne,  Lafourche,  St.  Bernard,  St.  Martin,  and  Orleans,  includ 
ing  the  City  of  New  Orleans),  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia, 
South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  and  Virginia,  except  the  forty-eight 
counties  designated  as  West  Virginia,  and  also  the  counties  of 
Berkley,  Accomac,  Northampton,  Elizabeth  City,  York,  Princess 
Anne,  and  Norfolk,  including  the  cities  of  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth, 
which  excepted  parts  are  for  the  present  left  as  if  this  proclamation 
were  not  made. 

"And  by  virtue  of  the  power  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  I  do 
order  and  declare  that  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  said  designated 
States  and  parts  of  States  are,  and  henceforward  shall  be,  FREE; 
and  the  Executive  Government  of  the  United  States,  including  the 
military  and  naval  authorities  thereof,  will  recognize  and  maintain 
the  freedom  of  such  persons. 

"And  I  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  declared  to  be  free  to  abstain 
from  all  violence,  unless  in  necessary  self-defence;  and  I  recommend 
to  them,  that,  in  all  cases  where  allowed,  they  labor  faithfully  for 
reasonable  wages. 

"And  I  further  declare  and  make  known,  that  such  persons,  if  in 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  Os 

ij 

suitable  condition,  will  be  received  into  the  armed  service  of  the 
United  States,  to  garrison  forts,  position,  stations,  and  other  places, 
and  to  man  vessels  of  all  sorts  in  said  service.  And  upon  this,  sin 
cerely  believed  to  be  an  act  of  justice  warranted  by  the  Constitution, 
and  upon  military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  considerate  judgment  of 
mankind  and  the  gracious  favor  of  Almighty  God. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the 
seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  first  day  of  January,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  of 
the  independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  the  eighty-seventh. 
(Signed.)  "ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 

THE  EFFECT  OF  THE  PROCLAMATION. — It  can  be  seen  that 
the  proclamation  was  effective  only  where  the  Federal  troops 
were  in  power,  and  "had  no  further  authority  than  that  which 
the  President  held  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  military 
forces  of  the  United  States." 

THE  HAMPTON  ROADS  CONFERENCE. — In  further  substan 
tiation  of  the  position  taken,  we  would  quote  from  the  Hamp 
ton  Roads  Conference,  which  conference  was  held  on  Febru 
ary  3,  1865.  It  was  informal  in  its  nature  and  yet  it  might 
have  been  frought  with  great  consequence.  There  were  pres 
ent  at  this  conference  President  Lincoln  himself,  Secretary 
Sewell,  representing  the  United  States  Government;  Vice- 
President,  Alexander  H.  Stevens;  Mr.  Hunter,  of  Virginia; 
Judge  Campbell,  representing  the  Confederacy.  Mr.  Lincoln 
would  hear  of  no  condition  save  the  immediate  return  of  the 
Southern  States  to  the  Union.  He  then  declared  his  purpose 
to  save  the  Union  with  or  without  slavery.  The  Southern 
commissioners  insisted  upon  full  recognition  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy.  It  can  be  seen  that  these  two  factions  could 
never  have  been  reconciled  and  the  Hampton  Roads  Confer 
ence  terminated  without  results. 


64  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

THE  SOUTH  AGAINST  SLAVERY. — It  can  be  proven  beyond 
the  shadow  of  a  doubt  that  the  best  minds  of  the  South  have 
always  been  opposed  to  human  slavery.  Mr.  Jefferson  pro 
posed  gradual  emancipation  of  the  slaves,  but  full  emancipa 
tion  would  certainly  have  come  in  time.  A  knowledge  of 
political  economy,  a  thorough  inculcation  of  the  principles  of 
Christian  religion  would  have  brought  about  the  results  ulti 
mately,  but  God  saw  fit  to  bring  it  by  means  of  blood  and 
carnage,  and  it  is  not  for  us  to  question  inscrutable  wisdom. 

GRADUAL  EMANCIPATION. — Had  a  system  of  gradual  eman 
cipation  been  adopted  by  Congress,  paying  the  Southern  plant 
ers  for  their  slaves,  which  frequently  constituted  the  bulk 
of  their  fortune,  and  giving  the  slaves  themselves  something 
upon  which  to  start  the  struggle  for  existence,  the  results,  to 
our  finite  minds,  might  have  been  better.  Much  of  the  bitter 
ness  engendered  by  wholesale  abolition  might  possibly  have 
been  averted,  and  much  of  the  suffering,  incident  thereto, 
avoided.  Be  this  as  it  may,  freedom  is  here.  We  have  done 
well ;  we  pray  to  do  better. 

SOUTH  THE  NEGRO'S  HOME. — The  South  is  in  every  way  the 
best  home  for  the  Negro  of  all  places  in  all  this  world.  No 
race  has  made  the  progress  he  has  made  in  the  short  space 
of  time.  While  the  prejudice  of  the  South  and  its  hard  and 
exacting  laws  may  be  conceded,  yet  when  everything  has  been 
considered,  the  Negro  has  made  more  rapid  progress  here 
than  in  any  other  part  of  the  country ;  not  simply  on  account 
of  his  superior  numerical  strength,  but  his  very  hardships 
have  proven  stepping-stones,  and  it  is  an  undeniable  truth 
that  the  honest,  self-respecting,  industrious  and  frugal  Negro 
can  always  find  a  white  hand  in  our  Southland  stretched  out 
to  help  him  to  higher  and  better  things.  Let  us  make  the  best 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  65 

of  our  opportunities,  cease  croaking  and  grumbling,  make 
friends  of  the  people  by  whom  we  are  surrounded,  be  loyal 
and  true  to  our  Southland,  and  be  determined,  in  the  words 
of  Booker  T.  Washington,  "to  let  down  our  buckets  where 
we  are." 


66  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


CHAPTER  IX 

0 

THE  NEGRO  IN  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR 

In  the  Colonial  War  the  Negro  fought  as  a  matter  of  force ; 
in  the  wars  of  1776  and  1812  as  a  matter  of  convenience;  in 
the  War  between  the  States  he  secured  his  own  liberty,  but 
the  question  was  still  open  as  to  whether  the  Negro  could  be 
made  to  fight  from  pure  patriotism.  God  gave  him  a  chance 
to  answer  that  question  in  the  War  with  Spain. 

The  Cuban  insurrection,  which  began  in  1898,  developed 
some  great  Negro  fighters.  Flor  Crombet,  Quintin  Baudeau, 
Antonio  Maceo  may  be  numbered  among  these  men,  and  per 
haps  the  most  wonderful  of  all  is  the  last,  who  was  so  really  a 
patriot  that  no  amount  of  money  was  able  to  bribe  him  and 
no  flattery  or  cajolery  move  him  from  his  purpose  to  fight 
for  the  independence  of  his  native  land.  When  the  war  broke 
out  between  this  country  and  Spain,  the  Twenty-fourth  United 
States  Regiment,  which  had  been  engaged  in  maintaining  peace 
in  the  West,  were  the  first  troops  to  be  ordered  to  the  front. 

NINTH  AND  TENTH  CAVALRY. — The  part  played  in  the  War 
with  Spain  by  the  Ninth  and  Tenth  Cavalry  is  too  well  known 
to  require  more  than  a  passing  notice.  Every  man  seemed  to 
have  been  absolutely  without  fear.  It  has  been  said  that  the 
Spaniards  hated  to  fight  against  Negroes,  because  they  did 
not  seem  to  know  when  they  had  been  beaten.  The  Twenty- 
fourth  Infantry  nursed  successfully  yellow  fever  patients, 
and  proved  themselves  invaluable  in  many  ways,  and  even 
Colonel  Roosevelt  declared  "he  never  expected  to  have,  nor 
wished  to  have,  better  men  beside  him  in  battle." 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  C; 

SOME  HEROES  OF  THE  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR.  —  General 
Jordan  was  on  Dewey's  Flag  Ship,  the  Olympia;  3,000  regu 
lars  were  in  the  Philippines,  and  colored  officers  were  raised 
to  colonel  ;  Colonel  Young,  of  North  Carolina,  being  deserv 
ing  of  special  recognition. 


VIRGINIA  REGIMENT.  —  Major  J.  B.  Johnson,  of  this 
regiment,  has  submitted  an  account  of  this  regiment,  which 
will  be  found  appended  to  this  volume. 

Charge  of  San  Juan  Hill,  July  I,  1898,  has  served  to  shed 
everlasting  lustre  upon  the  Negro  troops,  being  told  in  song 
and  story,  and  will  be  toM  as  long  as  men  love  patriotism  and 
deeds  of  valor  can  call  forth  the  enthusiasm  of  the  human 
heart. 

WHAT  THIS  TEACHES.—  The  splendid  history  of  the  Negroes 
in  the  great  wars  of  our  country  should  impress  upon  the 
minds  of  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  race  that  courage  and 
fidelity,  like  all  the  other  higher  virtues,  know  no  color;  that 
he  has  a  right  to  live,  to  acquire,  to  prosper  in  the  country  for 
which  his  fathers  fought;  that  we  must  love  the  old  flag,  our 
country's  flag,  the  flag  for  which  our  fathers  died.  And  as 
our  hearts  go  up  in  pride  for  the  magnificent  progress  made 
along  every  line,  let  us  remember  that  we  have  a  part  in  this 
country  and  have  a  right  to  feel  proud  of  all  of  her  noble 
achievements. 


68  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  X 
RELIGION 

RELIGIOUS  ADVANCEMENT. — No  people  can  rise  higher  than 
their  religion.  According  as  his  ideals  of  God  are  lofty  or 
base,  so  must  that  race  or  individual  be.  The  gods  of  the 
heathen  were  licentious  and  cruel,  and  the  people  were  like 
them.  The  Scripture  says:  'They  that  made  them  are  like 
unto  them."  Each  race  has  contributed  something  to  the 
Christian  religion.  The  Jews  preserved  the  idea  of  one  God, 
and  gave  to  religion  Ethics,  the  Ten  Commandments  and  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount :  the  Greeks  contributed  philosophy ; 
the  Romans  polity^  the  Teutons  liberty  and  breadth  of  thought ; 
the  Anglo-Saxon,  enterprise ;  and  the  Negro,  emotion.  Burke 
says :  "Religion  to  have  any  force  upon  men's  understanding, 
indeed  to  exist  at  all,  must  be  supposed  paramount  to  law  and 
independent  for  its  subsistence  upon  any  human  institution." 
What  Burke,  the  great  English  political  philosopher,  found 
out  by  reason,  the  Negro  learned  by  intuition.  His  faith  rose 
above  the  law  that  fixed  his  hard  condition  and  held  him  there 
above  ecclesiastical  juggling,  to  justify  slavery  by  the  Word 
of  God.  Emotion  is  the  vital  moving  principle  of  religion. 
The  Negro  stands  as  a  monument  of  patient  faithfulness  to 
humble  duty. 

His  RELIGIOUS  IDEALS. — Perhaps  the  most  wonderful  thing 
about  the  Negro's  religion  is  that  he  accepted  without  question 
the  God  of  his  oppressors,  and  became  in  any  sense  of  that 
word  a  Christian.  It  was  a  religion  without  the  Bible.  Snatches 
of  Scripture,  native  superstition,  coupled  with  a  vivid  imagi- 


70  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

nation,  consituted  the  sum  total  of  his  religion  of  the  past, 
and  yet  it  was  the  best  he  knew. 

INFIDELITY  AND  ATHEISM. — Infidelity  and  atheism  are  un 
known  things,  as  a  rule,  to  the  Negro  of  the  past.  Some  may 
say  it  was  on  account  of  his  lack  of  power  to  think.  Be  this 
as  it  may,  it  stands  as  an  everlasting  tribute  to  him  that  even 
to-day  agnosticism  and  free  thought  play  no  part  in  his  on 
ward  progress.  A  firm  reliance  on  God's  justice,  though  long 
delayed,  was  one  of  the  leading  characteristics  of  the  race.  He 
prayed  and  accepted  his  freedom  and  never  lost  this  hope, 
though  any  other  race  would  have  lost  it.  The  Jews  had  at 
least  the  history  of  the  past  to  think  on  while  in  Egypt  and 
Babylon,  and  yet  they  were  constantly  being  called  by  the 
prophets  of  God  to  a  renewal  of  their  faith  in  His  Providence. 
The  Negro  dealt  in  imagery  and  figures,  and  in  his  prayer 
to-day  we  hear  such  expressions  as  "ride  on  the  wings  of  the 
wind,"  "Cluck  unto  Zion  and  bid  her  rise  from  her  dust  and 
ashes,"  "We  came  down  on  our  sin  buckling  cane,"  and  other 
equally  figurative,  and,  in  fact,  beautiful  expressions.  He 
likes  the  books  of  Daniel,  Ezekiel  and  the  Revelations. 

EXPERIENCE  OF  GRACE. — People  have  often  wondered  what 
the  Negro  means  by  experience  of  grace,  and  yet  there  is  no 
mystery  about  it.  The  Bible  being  to  him  a  sealed  book,  he 
turned  directly  to  God  himself,  and  God  in  his  tender  mercy, 
dealt  with  him  miraculously.  Dreams  and  visions  to  him 
were  forms  of  reality.  He  imagined  he  heard  voices,  being 
a  race  of  intense  religious  emotions,  and  from  a  psychological 
point  of  view,  he  came  readily  to  believe  in  strange  things  and 
made  them  a  part  of  his  religion. 

GETTING  HAPPY. — The  getting  happy  of  the  Negroes  simply 
meant  the  lack  of  the  power  of  control.  Being  emotional 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  71 

rather  than  stoical,  he  easily  gave  way  to  his  feelings,  and  get 
ting  happy  was  the  natural  result.  True,  there  is  about  this 
sometimes  a  certain  form  of  hypocrisy,  but  as  a  rule,  it.  is 
simply  the  result  of  the  lack  of  control. 

RELIGION  AND  ETHICS. — His  religion  frequently  failed  to 
have  an  ethical  foundation,  but  this  was  caused  more  by  igno 
rance  than  by  depravity,  and  yet  the  example  set  by  others 
around  him,  who  sometimes  prayed  fervently  on  Sunday  and 
whipped  most  inhumanely  on  Monday,  was  the  contributing 
cause  to  this  peculiar  condition.  Yet  it  was  frequently'  genu 
ine,  and  Bishop  Haygood  says:  "I  know  that  the  religious 
life  of  the  colored  people  in  the  days  of  slavery  was  not  what 
it  ought  to  have  been,  yet  among  them  could  be  found  the 
holiest  of  men  and  women." 

GREAT  PREACHERS. — It  would  seem  strange  that  a  race  so 
ignorant  could  produce  great  preachers,  yet  such  was  un 
doubtedly  the  case.  Harry  Hosier,  "Black  Harry,"  the  trav 
eling  servant  of  Bishop  Asbury,  was  a  more  popular  preacher 
than  the  Bishop  himself.  Dr.  Rush  pronounces  him  "the 
greatest  orator  in  America,"  although  he  could  neither  read 
nor  write.  Rev.  Richard  Wells ;  Rev.  John  Jasper,  of  the 
"Sun  Do  ]\love"  fame;  Rev.  James  H.  Holmes,  the  beloved 
pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Richmond;  Rev.  Thorn 
ton,  of  the  City  of  Phoebus,  Va.,  along  with  hundreds  of  others 
whose  names  are  too  numerous  to  mention,  were  great  preach 
ers  and  leaders  among  their  people  and  did  magnificent  work 
for  the  uplift  of  the  Negroes. 

His  PRESENT  RFXIGIOUS  STATUS. — We  must  acknowledge 
that  even  at  present  his  religious  ideals  are  defective.  His 
notions  of  church  discipline  are  crude.  He  is  frequently 
more  happy  "turning  out"  than  taking  in  the  lambs  to  the 


72  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

fold.  Sometimes  he  puts  more  stress  on  sound  than  on  sense, 
and  even  among  the  comparatively  enlightened,  more  atten 
tion  is  paid  to  signs,  visions  and  human  imagination  than  to 
the  power  of  the  Word  of  God.  He  frequently  thinks  more 
of  the  past  experiences  than  of  present  life  and  character. 
He  very  often  has  a  wrong  conception  of  truth  and  is  more 
often  emotional  than  ethical.  His  religion  frequently  has  in 
it  a  strain  of  superstitions,  yet  heaven,  hell  and  judgment  are 
to  him  stern  realities.  He  believes  all  the  Bible.  The  stories 
of  Jonah,  Daniel,  and  the  Three  Hebrew  Children,  furnish  no 
stumbling  blocks  to  his  religious  faith. 

ELEMENTS  OF  HOPE. — He  is  quick  to  respond  to  whatever 
appeals  to  his  sympathies,  ready  to  help  another  in  times  of 
distress,  and  comparatively  few  Negroes  furnish  inmates  for 
poorhouses  and  eleemosynary  institutions.  Is  this  not  the 
spirit  of  the  Christ,  who  has  said:  "Pure  religion  and  unde- 
filed  before  God  and  the  Father  is  this,  to  visit  the  widows 
and  orphans  in  their  affliction,  and  to  keep  yourselves  unspotted 
from  the  world."  He  is  but  yet  a  little  child,  and  yet  this 
childish  faith  is  sweet  and  beautiful,  and  he  who  spake  as 
never  a  man  spake,  said :  "Except  ye  become  as  a  little  child 
ye  shall  not  see  the  Kingdom  of  God." 

POSSIBILITIES  OF  GROWTH. — His  emotional  nature  is  highly 
developed.  To  move  men  we  must  first  reach  their  feelings. 
Mark  Anthony,  in  his  great  oration  over  the  dead  body  of 
Caesar,  moved  the  Roman  populace  by  his  appeal  to  their 
feelings  when  he  uncovered  the  corpse  and  showed  them 
Caesar's  gaping  wounds.  Patrick  Henry,  the  magnificent 
orator  of  Virginia,  stirred  up  the  people  when  he  appealed  to 
their  emotions  by  saying:  "I  know  not  what  course  others 
may  take,  but  as  for  me,  give  me  liberty  or  give  me  death," 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  73 

Feeling,  being  developed,  brings  conviction;  conviction  brings 
action.  Physical  excitement  is  fast  passing  away  and  self- 
control  is  taking  its  place,  and  among  Negroes  everywhere 
can  be  found  churches  where  the  worship  is  beautiful  and 
inspiring.  The  sermons  are  logical  and  eloquent,  with  wor 
shippers  as  fervent  and  devoted  as  can  be  found  among  the 
proud  Anglo-Saxon. 

BENEVOLENCE. — In  proportion  to  his  means,  no  race  can 
excel  him  in  benevolence.  Forty  million  dollars  in  church 
property,  hospitals,  asylums,  infirmaries  and  eleemosynary 
institutions  are  evidences  of  that  fact. 

SOME  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. — Among  the  most  promi 
nent  may  be  named  the  Provident  Hospital,  in  Chicago;  the 
Woman's  Central  League  and  the  Richmond  Hospital,  in  the 
City  of  Richmond;  Fred  Douglas  Hospital,  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa. ;  the  Hale  Infirmary,  in  Montgomery,  Ala. ;  Mrs.  Watts' 
Orphanage,  Covington,  Ga.,  given  by  Mrs.  Diana  Pace  Watts, 
who  toiled  almost  single-handed  to  accomplish  her  design; 
the  Tent's  Old  Folks'  Home,  at  Hampton,  Va. ;  the  Old  Folks' 
Home  of  the  Richmond  Charitable  Union;  the  Old  Folks' 
Home  of  the  Grand  Fountain,  United  Order  of  True  Reform 
ers;  the  Rescue  Home,  in  Chicago;  the  Amanda  Smith  In 
dustrial  Home,  also  in  Chicago ;  and  the  Young  Women's  Pro 
tective  League,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  headed  by  the  famous 
Miss  Daysie  Dean  Walker,  are  but  a  few  that  might  be 
named. 

OTHER  FORMS  OF  RELIGIOUS  X\CTIVITY. — The  National  Bap 
tist  Convention,  the  Lott  Carey  Convention,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  great  A.  M.  E.  Church,  are  engaged  in  doing  splendid 
missionary  work  in  Middle  Drift,  S.  A.,  Brazil  and  the  Islands 
of  the  sea.  Out  of  a  population  (1900)  of  9,312,585,  more 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  75 

than  3,000,000  are  communicants  of  the  Church,  which  means 
that  one-third  of  the  whole  race  is  actually  connected  with 
the  Church  of  God,  to  say  nothing  of  the  "Secret  Disciples." 
SOME  RELIGIOUS  CHARACTERISTICS. — Love  for  music,  the 
one  thing  that  brings  man  nearest  to  God,  forgiveness,  pa 
tience  and  love  are  the  religious  characteristics  which  are 
destined  in  the  future  to  put  the  Negro  in  the  front  rank  in 
religious  life. 

Let  others  hate,  we  will  teach  our  children  love, 
Let  others  fight,  we  will  teach  endure  the  wrong, 

No  cowards  we,  our  teachings  from  above; 
When  weak  in  hate,  then  only  are  we  strong. 

— Davis. 


;6  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  XI 
EDUCATION 

Garfield  says :  "Next  in  importance  to  freedom  and  justice 
is  popular  education,  without  which  neither  justice  nor  free 
dom  can  be  permanently  maintained." 

EDUCATION  OF  THE  PAST. — There  was  practically  no  educa 
tion  in  the  past.  The  law  of  the  land  wrote  him  down  as  a 
chattel.  In  many  States  it  was  actually  a  crime  to  teach  a 
Negro  to  read.  Ignorance  was  an  absolute  necessity  to 
human  slavery.  True,  young  Negroes  sometimes  "picked 
up  something"  from  their  young  masters  as  they  carried 
them  to  and  from  the  school-house,  and  some  Negroes  were 
taught  in  the  South  by  the  noble-hearted  Southern  mistresses. 
Some  went  to  school  in  the  North,  but  a  proposed  college  in 
New  Haven  was  strenuously  objected  to  by  the  people  of  the 
conservative  State  of  Connecticut. 

THE  END  OF  EDUCATION. — The  end  of  education  is  to  pre 
pare  men  for  usefulness  in  life.  That  the  Negro  has  the  power 
to  acquire  learning  is  no  longer  a  question.  The  best  schools 
of  this  country,  from  which  he  has  graduated,  holding  his  own 
with  his  white  competitor,  bear  indisputable  evidence  of  this 
truth.  Education  benefits  any  people,  and  the  Negro  is  no 
exception  to  this  rule.  It  improves  morals  and  character, 
makes  better  citizens  and  neighbors,  produces  more  efficient 
workmen  and  diminishes  the  danger  of  race  conflict.  Says  Dr. 
Rnffner,  "The  Negro  craves  education.  The  civilization  of 
the  race  is  progressing  even  faster  than  his  thoughtful  friends 
anticipated."  Yet  education  cannot  change  the  Negro  in  a 
clay  as  by  a  magic  wand,  but  the  element  of  time  must  enter 


78  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

into  his  development  as  with  all  other  races.  Whites  mus'., 
be  educated  as  well  as  blacks.  Henry  W.  Grady  says :  "Edu 
cation  is  the  solution  of  the  Southern  problem,  education 
is  the  solution  of  the  Northern  problem,  education  is 
the  solution  of  the  problem  of  all  human  advancement.  Right 
education  of  the  physical,  mental  and  spiritual  powers  of 
each  individual  will  perfect  society  and  nothing  else  will  do 
it.''  Christ,  the  great  Teacher,  has  said,  "Ye  shall  know  the 
truth  and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free." 

ADVANCEMENT  IN  NEGRO  EDUCATION. — In  1891  there  were 
fifty-two  normal  and  industrial  schools  maintained  by  States 
and  by  religious  denominations,  having  approximately  10,000 
students ;  twenty-five  denominational  and  six  non-denomina 
tional  colleges  and  universities,  having  8,000  students ;  forty- 
seven  for  secondary  education,  having  at  least  12,000  students ; 
twenty-five  schools  of  theology  of  various  denominations, 
with  700  students ;  five  schools  for  the  exclusive  study  of 
law,  with  350  students ;  five  schools  for  the  exclusive  study 
of  medicine,  with  550  students;  sixteen  schools  receiving 
State  and  Federal  aid  for  industrial  and  agricultural  training, 
with  4,500  students,  and  all  of  these  schools,  with  about  three 
exceptions,  are  located  in  the  former  slave  States. 

EXPENDITURES  FOR  NEGRO  EDUCATION. — Since  1876,  the 
South  has  expended  approximately  $383,000,000  for  educa 
tion.  It  is  fair  to  presume  that  at  least  one-fourth  of  this  was 
spent  on  Negro  education.  This  is  indeed  a  tremendous 
stride.  At  the  close  of  the  \Var  between  the  States,  the 
South  was  poor.  Four  years  of  civil  war  had  devastated  the 
land.  Soldiers  came  home  from  the  war,  broken  in  health  and 
in  fortune,  to  take  up  again  the  loom  of  l!Tc.  The  children  of 
the  South  were  in  sore  need  of  education ;  their  resources  were 


8o  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

meagre,  an_  yet,  notwithstanding  these  drawbacks,  they 
shared  with  the  black  children  of  the  South  the  humble  pit 
tance  they  were  able  to  spare  from  the  absolute  necessities 
for  the  education  of  their  children.  In  addition  to  this  the 
South  felt  naturally  some  resentment  toward  the  Negro,  be 
cause  of  his  recent  enfranchisement.  We  must  not  forget 
to  think  of  these  things  when  the  question  of  the  treatment 
of  the  South  to  the  Negroes  is  under  consideration.  Let 
us  pay  our  humble  tribute  for  all  that  they  have  done  and 
show  our  appreciation  by  noble  patriotism  and  honest  living. 

HISTORY  OF  NEGRO  EDUCATION. — September,  1861,  under 
the  guns  of  Fort  Monroe,  the  first  schools  were  opened  for 
contrabands  of  war.  In  1862  they  were  extended  south  to 
the  Carolinas.  In  1863  the  first  public  schools  for  Louisiana 
were  opened.  General  Grant  called  General  Eaton  the  same 
year  to  teach  the  freedmen  in  Mississippi,  and  Eaton  had 
under  him  at  one  time  770,000  people.  He  did  a  wonderful 
work  and  the  colored  people  paid  from  their  earnings  nearly 
a  quarter  of  million  dollars.  To  this  end,  1865,  a  Freed- 
men's  Bureau  was  established  by  an  Act  of  Congress,  with 
General  O.  O.  Howard  as  Commissioner.  The  Freedmen's 
Bureau  was  aided  by  the  American  Missionary  Association, 
the  chief  body  apart  from  the  government,  which  now  con 
trols  seventy-eight  schools.  The  American  Baptist  Home 
Missionary  Society  that  supports  Spelman,  at  Atlanta;  Shaw, 
at  Raleigh ;  Atlanta  University  >  and  the  splendid  Virginia 
Union  University,  at  Richmond,  and  many  other  schools  in 
various  parts  of  the  country;  the  Society  of  Friends,  which 
is  doing  a  splendid  work  even  to-day.  The  United  Presby 
terians,  the  Reformed  Presbyterians,  the  United  Brethren  of 
Christ,  the  North  West  Freedmen's  Aid  Commission,  the 


82  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

National  Freedmen's  Aid  Association,  were  also  active  in  the 
work.  The  first  school  for  colored  people  in  Vicksburg, 
Mississippi,  was  established  by  the  United  Brethren,  in  the 
basement  of  a  Methodist  Church.  It  was  believed  that  Great 
Britain  contributed  a  million  dollars,  which  was  sent  in  money 
and  clothes.  The  Peabody  fund  of  $2,000,000  in  trusts  acts 
with  the  States,  and  has  achieved  remarkable  results.  The 
John  F.  Slater  fund  of  $1,000,000,  to  be  used  exclusively  for 
Negro  education,  did  wonderful  good,  and  the  Negro  will 
never  be  ungrateful  for  this  great  succor  in  his  time  of  need. 

"Until  the  years  get  old, 
The  stars  grow  cold, 
And  the  leaves  of  the  judgment  book 
unfold." 

WHAT  THE  NEGRO  RACE  HAS  DONE  FOR  ITSELF. — In  1860 
he  was  entirely  illiterate;  in  1870  he  had  reduced  his  illiteracy 
to  85  per  cent.,  in  1880  to  75  per  cent.,  in  1890  to  64  per  cent., 
and  to-day  to  47  per  cent.  There  are  6,500  studying  to  be 
teachers,  2,900  in  high  schools,  1,944  graduates  from  normal 
schools,  1,865  studying  professions,  785  studying  theology. 
These  figures  are  approximate  only. 

WHAT  THE  RACE  MUST  LEARN. — The  Negro  of  this  country 
must  learn  the  economies  of  home  life,  character  and  virtue, 
thrift  and  industry  and  skill  in  labor.  We  must  remember, 
since  the  race  expects  to  do  the  majority  of  the  work  of  the 
land,  that  the  mass  of  people  in  the  meanwhile  must  make 
preparation  to  do  that  work  most  effectively.  As  unwelcome 
as  it  may  sound,  the  world  wants  more  cooks,  housemaids, 
waiters,  barbers,  mechanics,  engineers,  machinists,  laborers, 
hod-carriers  than  lawyers,  doctors,  preachers,  teachers, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  83 

artists,  and  poets.  There  are  some  30,000  teachers,  which 
means  one  to  every  334;  one  thousand  lawyers,  which  means 
one  to  every  10,000;  2,000  doctors,  or  one  to  every  5.000; 
15,000  preachers,  or  one  to  every  700,  and  80,000  business 
men,  and  yet  with  all  this,  there  still  remains  more  than  7,000,- 
ooo,  who  must  make  their  living  by  the  work  of  their  hands. 

WHAT  KIND  OF  EDUCATION  DOES  HE  NEED? — First,  thor 
oughly  trained  men  and  women  to  teach  the  masses  how  to 
think.  He  needs  every  kind  of  education  and  every  opportunity 
to  show  his  capacity.  Manual  training  alone  means  serfdom ; 
without  it,  extinction.  Men  want  something  to  eat,  some 
thing  to  wear,  and  somewhere  to  stay.  True  education  may 
teach  them  how  best  to  supply  these  physical  needs,  and  the 
other  things  must  come  afterwards;  for  no  man  can  enjoy 
Virgil  on  a  hungry  stomach.  Should  we  fail  to  do  the  work 
given  to  us  intelligently,  others  will  take  our  place.  Indus 
trial  training  must  be  given  to  the  vast  majority,  and  manual 
training  to  all  to  develop  character. 

ADVANTAGES  OF  INDUSTRIAL  EDUCATION. — First,  it  gives 
respect  and  love  for  labor.  The  fact  that  a  man  can  do 
something  gives  him  moral  backbone.  Eighty-five  per  cent, 
of  the  people  living  in  the  country  must  make  their  living  from 
the  soil.  It  does  not  mean  limited  mental  development,  for 
agriculture  means  botany,  geology  and  chemistry ;  carpentry 
means  architecture  and  mechanical  drawing.  Dairying,  horti 
culture,  stock-raising  and  poultry-raising  will  give  us  as  fine 
a  living  as  medicine  and  law.  Industrial  education  teaches 
how  to  work.  It  takes  a  boy  from  following  the  plow  and 
puts  him  on  a  harvesting  machine,  with  an  umbrella  over  his 
head,  and  since  85  per  cent,  must  depend  upon  the  country 


84  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

products  for  a  living,  let  us  do  this  well.     It  teaches  truth, 
exactness,  beauty,  honesty  and  faith. 

SOME  GREAT  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOLS. — Perhaps  the  foremost 
of  all  industrial  schools  in  this  country  is  the  Hampton  Nor 
mal  and  Agricultural  Institute,  opened  in  April,  1868,  and 
chartered  in  1870,  by  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature.  This 
school  is  controlled  by  seventeen  trustees,  representing  dif 
ferent  sections  of  the  country,  and  six  religious  denomina 
tions,  no  one  having  a  majority.  The  State  contributes 
$10,000  a  year  towards  its  support  and  appoints  State  curators 
to  see  to  its  expenditure.  The  object  is  to  train  youths  to  go 
and  teach  and  lead  the  people.  Its  fundamental  principle  is 
self-support,  and  all  students  must  do  some  work.  Nothing 
is  ever  asked  for  a  student  that  he  can  provide  for  himself. 
It  costs  from  $175,000  to  $250,000  a  year  to  maintain  the 
school.  It  derives  its  revenue  from  one-third  of  the  land 
grant  that  by  the  Merrill  Act  was  allowed  to  Virginia  for  the 
support  of  agricultural  schools.  It  receives  an  appropriation 
from  Congress  for  the  120  Indian  students  attending  the 
school.  It  also  receives  some  help  from  the  Slater  and  Pea- 
body  funds,  but  its  greatest  support  comes  from  its  endow 
ment  fund,  which  is  constantly  increasing,  and  from  popular 
subscriptions.  The  value  of  the  property  is  about  $i,ooorooo. 
It  has  about  sixty  buildings  on  the  grounds  proper,  with 
150  acres  of  land  at  the  Henningway  Farm;  both  of  these 
farms  being  cultivated  by  student  labor.  The  enrollment  is 
about  i, 080,  including  those  attending  the  Whittier  School, 
which  is  practically  a  county  school.  There  are  over  one 
hundred  teachers,  officers,  assistants,  etc.,  and  almost  all  of 
these  teach  in  the  industrial  department.  The  boys  are 
taught  farming,  carpentry,  house-painting,  wheel-wrighting, 


86  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

tailoring,  harness-making,  painting,  shoe-making,  engineer 
ing,  upholstering  and  wood-turning,  plumbing  and  horticul 
ture.  Girls  are  taught  housework,  laundrying,  sewing,  dress 
making,  scientific  cooking,  slbyd,  upholstering  and  agricul 
ture.  There  is  a  trade  school  and  domestic  science  building, 
which  rank  among  the  best  equipped  in  this  country.  Nine- 
tenths  of  the  graduates  and  undergraduates  have  done  good 
work.  Tuskegee,  Calhoun,  Mount  Meggs,  Gloucester  and 
Kittrell  are  schools  patterned  after  Hampton,  and  practically 
the  result  of  Hampton  training;  most  of  them  being  presided 
over  by  Hampton  graduates. 

TUSKEGEE  NORMAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL. — This  school 
was  opened  June  14,  1881.  The  Alabama  State  Legislature 
appropriated  $2,000  a  year  for  the  support  of  a  Negro  school. 
General  Armstrong  recommended  Booker  T.  Washington  as 
a  suitable  person  to  establish  such  a  school.  This  school  has 
about  the  same  number  of  buildings,  teachers,  etc.,  as  Hamp 
ton,  and  ranks  well  with  the  mother  school. 

SOME  OTHER  SCHOOLS. — Georgia  State  Industrial  School, 
established  in  1891,  Prof.  R.  R.  Wright,  president;  Central 
Tennessee  College,  established  by  the  Methodists ;  Spelman 
Seminary  (the  Negro  Vassar),  at  Atlanta,  Georgia ;  Fisk  Uni 
versity,  Nashville,  Tennessee ;  Virginia  Union  University, 
Richmond,  Virginia;  Virginia  Normal  and  Industrial 
Institute,  at  Petersburg,  Virginia ;  Christiansburg  Industrial 
Institute,  at  Cambria,  Virginia ;  Joseph  K.  Brick  Industrial 
School,  Enfield,  North  Carolina ;  Dinwiddie  Normal  and  Agri 
cultural  Institute,  Dinwiddie,  Virginia;  Princess  Anne  Acad 
emy,  at  Princess  Anne,  Maryland ;  Hartshorn  Memorial  Col 
lege,  at  Richmond,  Virginia;  Theological  Seminary  and  Col- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  87 

lege,  at  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  and  the  Atlanta  University,  of 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  all  have  some  of  industrial  training  in  addi 
tion  to  their  literary  course.  These  are  but  a  few  which  go  to 
make  up  the  progress  of  the  Negro,  and  yet  the  call  for  an 
education  grows  stronger  and  stronger  as  the  years  go  by. 


88  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER  XII 
BUSINESS  AND  COMMERCE 

The  Negro  has  practically  just  begun  his  business  career. 
It  is  therefore  necessarily  in  a  crude  condition,  but  this  has 
been  true  of  all  races  struggling  to  reach  the  light.  Business 
means  civilization.  If  there  is  one  lesson  taught  more  dis 
tinctly  than  any  other  by  the  Jamestown  Exposition  it  is 
that  the  Negro  is  rapidly  waking  up  to  business. 

EVERY  MAN  MUST  WORK. — God's  edict  given  in  Eden  says : 
"By  the  sweat  of  thy  brow  shall  thou  eat  bread, "and  a  posi 
tive  injunction  is,  "He  that  will  not  work  neither  shall  he 
eat."  Idleness  has  in  all  ages  been  the  greatest  curse  of  all 
people,  and  the  old  axiom  comes  back  with  greater  force : 
"The  devil  finds  some  mischief  still  for  idle  hands  to  do." 
The  Negro  is  no  exception  to  this  general  law,  and  idleness 
has  been  his  curse.  True,  there  are  many  idle,  but  it  is  equally 
true  that  there  are  many  thrifty  and  industrious  among  us 
that  are  deserving  of  highest  commendation. 

NEGRO  ENGAGED  IN  EVERY  BRANCH  OF  INDUSTRY. — The 
Negro  has  more  than  $10,000,000  invested  in  business  in  this 
country,  of  which  79  per  cent,  is  in  business  with  less  than 
$2,500  capital,  showing  the  wide  dispersion  of  business  inter 
ests.  There  are  few  skilled  mechanics,  because  of  lack  of  op 
portunity,  and  no  great  corporations  as  a  matter  of  course. 
Perhaps  the  greatest  financier  the  race  has  ever  produced 
was  W.  W.  Browne,  the  founder  of  the  great  organization 
known  as  the  True  Reformers.  His  plan  is  exceedingly 
unique  and  is  pronounced  by  good  authorities  to  be  admirable. 
It  might  be  stated  in  passing  that  the  charter  was  obtained  by 


9o  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Colonel  Giles  B.  Jackson.  His  bank  is  based  upon  the  broad 
est  possible  principles,  and  during  the  panic  in  our  country 
it  was  the  only  bank  in  the  city  of  Richmond  that  never  re 
fused  the  payment  of  checks.  The  organizers  of  this  organi 
zation  were  among  the  best  business  men  that  the  race  has 
yet  produced.  The  Negro  has  no  Morgans,  no  Rothschilds, 
no  Mantel  Brothers,  no  Mark  Hannas,  nor  Rockefellers,  but 
every  Negro  started  with  nothing,  worked  himself  up  slowly, 
and  by  strict  attention  to  business,  and  by  sometimes  the 
severest  deprivation,  attained  to  his  present  height. 

REPORT  OF  A.  F.  HILYER,  U.  S.  COMMISSIONER  TO  PARIS 
EXPOSITION,  1900. — Mr.  Hilyer  reports  that  he  visited  143 
business  places,  with  capital  ranging  from  $500  to  a  bank, 
whose  daily  balance  was  $82,000.  He  perhaps  visited  many 
of  the  best  and  also  many  of  the  smaller  ones.  There  was  not 
a  single  city  visited  by  him  where  he  did  not  have  something 
to  report.  He  found  2,020  Negroes  in  business.  First,  bar 
bers  ;  second,  caterers ;  third,  small  grocers ;  fourth,  cook 
shops ;  fifth,  butchers.  Nearly  every  Southern  city  could 
boast  of  its  Negro  drug-store.  He  also  visited  three  book 
and  tract  publishing  houses,  one  whose  plant  was  valued  at 
$45,000.  He  also  reports  200  newspapers,  three  magazines 
and  one  paper  (Richmond  Planet)  with  a  capital  invested  of 
$10,000  and  5,000  subscribers.  Washington  could  show  1,302 
colored  proprietors,  capital  invested  $700,000,  doing  $2,000,- 
ooo  worth  of  business  yearly,  with  3,030  persons  employed. 

REPORT  OF  THE  ATLANTA  CONFERENCE,  ATLANTA,  GEORGIA, 
1906. — The  Conference  reports  Negroes  as  carrying  on  every 
kind  of  business,  sometimes  in  a  similar  way  that  other  races 
can  boast  of.  Four-fifths  of  them  have  been  established  five 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  91 

years,  and  one-fifth  more  than  twenty  years,  and  67  more  than 
thirty  years,  with  an  aggregate  capital  of  $5,631,137. 

CONSPICUOUS  BUSINESS  ENTERPRISES  AMONG  NEGROES  OF 
UNITED  STATES. — We  have  authentic  reports  from  fifteen 
building  and  loan  associations,  twenty-eight  banks — four  of 
these  being  in  the  city  of  Richmond — 1,150  life  insurance 
companies  and  sick  benefit  associations,  several  mining  compa 
nies,  one  street  railway,  one  foundry,  one  cotton  mill,  one  silk 
plant,  valued  at  $45,000,  one  firm  of  truck  gardeners,  Noisette 
Brothers,  near  Charleston,  S.  C,  who  cultivate  500  acres  and 
have  carried  on  business  for  thirty  years,  sending  several  car 
loads  of  truck  to  market  every  week,  and  have  a  railroad  sid 
ing  built  on  their  farm.  J.  H.  Graves,  near  Kansas  City,  Kan., 
raises  potatoes  particularly,  and  has  400  acres  under  cultiva 
tion.  He  raised  7,500  bushels  in  1900,  sold  $25,000  worth  of 
produce.  Within  a  radius  of  20  miles,  there  are  1,312  Negro 
farms,  which  are  reported  as  doing  well.  C.  C.  Leslie,  Char 
leston,  S.  C.,  a  fish  dealer,  has  $30,000  invested  in  nets,  boats, 
ice-houses,  real  estate,  etc.,  and  ships  to  northern  markets  from 
three  to  five  loads  of  fish  weekly.  In  Columbus,  Mississippi, 
a  Negro  owns  his  own  abattoir,  kills  for  other  butchers,  and 
supplies  the  best  people  in  the  town  with  meat.  There  is 
also  a  pawn  broker  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  with  $5,000  in 
vested.  A  department  store  conducted  by  the  Saint  Lukes 
in  the  city  of  Richmond  compares  favorably  with  those  con 
ducted  by  our  more  favored  brethren.  There  is  another  at 
Baltimore,  of  which  the  same  can  be  said.  The  largest  drug 
store  is  owned  by  a  colored  physician  in  Anniston,  Alabama, 
another  is  also  found  in  Winstpu-Salem,  North  Carolina. 
There  are  four  in  Richmond,  one  in  Staunton,  one  in  Peters 
burg,  and  many  in  Washington  and  Baltimore.  A  ready-made 


92  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

clothing  store  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  conducted  by  Major 
I.  J.  Miller,  carries  $10,000  worth  of  stock ;  there  is  also  one  in 
Hampton  and  one  in  Newport  News.  There  is  a  large  shoe 
store  in  Richmond,  conducted  by  the  Capital  Shoe  Company, 
ard  a  shoe  manufacturing  company,  known  as  the  Fred 
Douglas  Shoe  Company  in  Massachusetts.  The  late  Samuel 
Harris,  of  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  conducted  the  largest  gen 
eral  store  east  of  Richmond,  and  died  worth  $150,000.  H. 
L.  Jackson,  of  Blackstone,  Virginia,  is  a  merchant  of  no  mean 
pretentious,  while  H.  F.  Jonathan  and  Thos.  Smith,  of  Rich 
mond,  take  high  rank  as  fish  merchants.  Mr.  Thomas  Har- 
man  has  made  a  comfortable  fortune  in  the  clothing  business, 
while  Mr.  W.  T.  Anderson  and  R.  R.  Palmer  still  carry  on  a 
prosperous  business.  Mr.  A.  W.  E.  Bassette,  of  Hampton, 
Virginia,  is  the  owner  of  Bassette's  Academy,  a  splendid 
playhouse,  and  the  only  one  for  colored  people  in  the  city  of 
Hampton.  There  is  a  stock-breeder  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee, 
worth  $100,000,  with  $50,000  invested  in  blooded  horses.  The 
history  of  Lewis,  the  tailor,  and  the  late  Mr.  Lee,  the  caterer, 
of  Boston,  is  well-known.  A  photographer  in  St.  Paul,  Minne 
sota,  carries  on  a  $20,000  business.  J.  C.  Farley  and  George 
Brown,  of  Richmond,  are  making  good  success  in  the  same 
line.  These  are  simply  a  few  examples  showing  Negro  thirft 
and  enterprise. 

OTHER  THAN  COMMERCIAL  BUSINESS. — There  are  more 
than  one  thousand  reputable  lawyers  who.  do  a  thriving  busi 
ness  and  are  highly  respected  by  the  judges  of  the  courts. 
D.  August  Strakcr,  of  Detroit ;  Stewart,  of  New  York ;  Cobb, 
Terrell,  Hewlett,  of  the  District  of  Columbia ;  J.  Thomas  New- 
some,  Newport  News,  Virginia ;  J.  C.  Robertson,  attorney  for 
the  True  Reformers,  and  G.  W.  Lewis,  both  of  Richmond, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


93 


are  a  few  of  those  who  might  be  mentioned.  There  are  two 
thousand  doctors  skilled  in  their  profession.  Among  the  most 
prominent  may  be  mentioned  Drs.  Purvis,  Curtis  and  Willis- 
ton,  of  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Dr.  Williams,  formerly  chief  of 
the  Freedman's  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  whose  surgical 
work  has  taken  high  rank  among  the  great  doctors  of  his 
tory;  Dr.  Wheatland,  of  Boston,  whose  practice  is  very  ex 
tensive;  H.  L.  Harris,  J.  E.  Merriweather  and  R.  E.  Jones, 
of  the  city  of  Richmond,  are  pioneers  in  their  profession  in 
this  great  city  for  Negro  progress.  Space  would  fail  us  to 
mention  the  great  number  who  are  bringing  things  to  pass, 
but  suffice  it  to  say  that  the  Negro  doctor  is  no  experiment. 
There  are  some  32,000  Negro  teachers ;  the  first  and  foremost 
among  these  is  the  great  Booker  T.  Washington,  of  Tuskegee 
Institute.  Mrs.  Annie  M.  Cooper,  for  many  years  principal 
in  the  Washington  High  School ;  Dr.  W.  Bruce  Evans,  prin 
cipal  of  Armstrong  Manual  Training  School ;  Wm.  H.  Coun 
cil,  Normal  Alabama;  Major  R.  R.  Moten,  commandant  of 
Cadets,  Hampton  School ;  J.  Hugo  Johnston,  State  Normal 
School,  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  and  hundreds  of  others  in 
various  parts  of  the  country  have  done  their  part  to  elevate  the 
teaching  profession  among  the  Negroes  of  the  country  to  the 
very  highest  point  of  efficiency.  There  are  some  17,000  bar 
bers,  skilled  in  their  profession.  The  Atlanta  Conference  has 
made  a  study  of  these  lines  of  work  performed  by  the  Negroes 
of  this  country,  which  is  full  of  intense  interest. 

DISADVANTAGES  OF  NEGROES  IN  BUSINESS. — Perhaps  the 
most  serious  drawback  to  the  Negroes  of  this  country,  when  it 
comes  to  the  matter  of  business,  has  been  lack  of  confidence 
in  each  other.  This  is  a  serious  drawback  and  yet  not  un 
natural  when  we  consider  the  fact  that  the  institution  of  slav- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


95 


ery  could  do  nothing  to  increase  the  respect  that  one  Negro 
had  for  another.  Again,  he  had  had  little  previous  business 
training  and  consequently  his  methods  have  been  loose,  and 
thus  tended  to  destroy  what  little  confidence  there  might  have 
been.  He  has  had  little  opportunity  to  learn  in  the  white 
man's  place  of  business.  The  Negro  might  become  ever  so 
efficient  in  the  performance  of  menial  duty,  he  might  go  in 
as  janitor  in  any  place  of  business  conducted  by  members  of 
the  more  fortunate  race,  and  however  efficient  he  might  be 
come,  once  a  porter  means  for  him  always  a  porter ;  and  when 
he  goes  out  to  start  business  for  himself  he  can  only  bring 
to  bear  that  which  he  has  ''picked  up"  by  serving  in  his  own 
humble  capacity.  The  doors  of  large  factories  are  practically 
closed  against  him,  and  yet  notwithstanding  these  serious  dis 
advantages  he  has  gone  into  business,  frequently  made  money, 
and  almost  invariably  has  been  able  to  save  some  of  what  he 
has  made. 

WITH  WHOM  HE  TRADES. — There  is  no  notion  so  erroneous 
as  the  supposition  that  Negroes  who  go  into  business  must 
trade  exclusively  with  members  of  their  own  race,  and  strange 
as  it  may  seem,  many  Negroes  in  business  can  frequently 
boast  of  having  a  larger  white  than  colored  trade,  and  some 
have  their  trade  almost  exclusively  confined  to  the  white 
race.  Some  of  the  finest  barber  shops  kept  by  colored  men 
wait  on  white  customers  exclusively,  and  a  number  of  keepers 
of  fine  restaurants  have  a  trade  among  the  very  best  white 
people  of  the  community.  Besides  these  many  dress-makers 
and  seamstresses  confine  their  labors  almost  exclusively  to 
white  people,  even  in  southern  communities.  It  may  be  only 
fair  to  say  in  passing,  that  the  white  men  and  women  of  the 
South  have  shown  a  most  commendable  spirit  in  their  willing- 


g6  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

ness  to  help  along  colored  men  and  women  engaged  in  busi 
ness. 

OUR  GREAT  NEED. — One  of  the  greatest  needs  of  the  race 
to-day  is  to  have  well  conducted  business  colleges  where 
young  men  and  women  may  be  trained  in  the  conduct  of  busi 
ness.  We  are  pleased  to  note  the  constant  effort  being  made 
to  supply  this  need.  Prof.  T.  P.  Smith,  of  Lynchburg,  Vir 
ginia,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  in  this  work,  and  Prof.  C.  £. 
Mitchell,  a  full  graduate  of  the  Boston  School  of  Business 
and  a  remarkably  capable  man,  turns  out  every  year  from  the 
West  Virginia  Colored  Institute  a  large  number  of  men  and 
women,  who  are  thoroughly  prepared  to  conduct  business 
from  a  high  business  standpoint.  The  work  that  tnese  and 
others  are  doing  for  the  future  of  the  business  prosperity  of 
the  Negro  of  this  country  cannot  be  over  estimated.  Many 
high  schools  are  also  carrying  a  business  course,  and  the  out 
look  grows  brighter  daily.  The  young  Negro  must  be  taught 
the  value  of  system,  the  necessity  of  absolute  accuracy,  truth 
fulness,  reliability  and  these  higher  virtues,  without  which  no 
real  business  can  be  done. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  97 

CHAPTER  XIII 
THE  NEGRO  AS  A  FARMER  AND  INVENTOR 

It  has  been  estimated  that  90  per  cent,  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  United  States  live  in  the  rural  districts.  While  this 
may  not  be  true  with  regard  to  all  races,  it  is  abso 
lutely  true  with  regard  to  the  Negro.  He  is  indeed  the 
Anteus,  a  "son  of  the  soil."  There  can  be  no  question  that 
the  Negro  as  a  farm  laborer,  when  it  comes  to  really  doing 
the  work,  cannot  be  excelled ;  and  yet  there  is  undoubtedly  a 
tendency  on  his  part  to  leave  the  farm  and  come  to  the  city. 
The  primary  cause  for  this  can  be  found  in  his  social  nature. 
He  is  no  misanthrope,  no  hermit,  and  can  only  find  true  hap 
piness  as  he  comes  in  contact  with- his  fellow-creatures.  Lack 
of  society  in  rural  districts  has  done  more  to  drive  the  social 
Negro  to  the  city  than  any  other  one  thing.  When  the  com 
munity  progress,  in  vogue  in  Germany  and  other  foreign 
countries,  shall  find  a  foothold  in  America,  then  how  to  keep 
the  Negro  on  the  farm  will  no  longer  be  a  problem.  This 
tendency  to  social  intercourse,  this  inherent  dislike  for  isola 
tion  has  made  him  practically  a  failure  as  a  farm  laborer,  and 
railroads,  coal  mines,  stone  quarries,  and  city  streets  find  more 
attraction  for  him  than  the  song  of  birds,  the  chirp  of  swal 
lows,  and  commuion  with  nature ;  for  this  reason  the  Negro 
as  a  farm  laborer  has  been  practically  a  failure.  The  meagre 
returns  that  come  from  tenant  farming,  and  the  constant 
poverty  which  he  must  meet  as  he  attempts  to  farm  for  some 
body  else  have  had  the  effect  of  making  him  a  failure  along 
this  line.  The  feeling  that  he  must  labor  hour  in  and  hour 
out,  and  at  the  end  find  himself  no  further  advanced  prac 
tically  than  when  he  began,  has  proven  a  means  of  discourage- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


99 


ment  to  him,  and  yet  this  condition  is  not  peculiar  to  the 
Negro  tenant  farmer  alone,  for  all  persons  of  all  races  have 
shown  a  like  result. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  LAND  OWNING  FARMER. — The  Negro  as 
a  land  owning  farmer  is  a  success.  There  is  no  need  of 
statistics  to  prove  this  self-evident  fact.  A  ride  through  the 
country  districts  of  any  Southern  State  will  clearly  demon 
strate  this  fact.  In  one  Congressional  district  in  Virginia 
alone  he  owns  one-fifteenth  of  the  land,  containing  125,597 
acres,  valued  at  $1,000,000.  A  colored  planter  now  owns  one 
of  President  Jefferson  Davis'  plantations  in  Mississippi.  The 
Negroes  own  13,000  acres  in  Gloucester  county,  Virginia, 
which  is  unencumbered,  where  twenty-five  years  ago  they 
owned  less  than  100.  There  are  12,690,152  homes  and  farms 
in  the  United  States,  and  the  Negro  owns  234,737.  Accord 
ing  to  the  census  of  1900,  this  amount  is  free  from  all  encum 
brances,  while  29,542  are  mortgaged.  One  strange  thing, 
and  yet  withal  a  very  splendid  one,  the  Negro  as  a  rule  de- 
lights  to  pay  as  he  goes,  and  this  is  clearly  evidenced  when 
the  census  shows  that  n  per  cent,  of  the  Negro  farms  are 
mortgaged,  while  39  per  cent,  of  the  entire  number  of  farms 
in  the  country  are  mortgaged.  Agriculture  is  far  from  fas 
cinating  to  him  who  owes  every  time  he  turns,  but  to  him  who 
owes  no  man  it  possesses  a  charm  all  its  own. 

How  SHALL  \\TE  KEEP  THE  NEGRO  ON  THE  FARM? — First, 
he  must  be  made  to  know  that  all  work  requires  labor,  either 
physical  or  mental,  and  to  labor  in  one  place  is  no  greater 
hardship  than  to  labor  in  another.  We  must  be  taught  that 
the  saving  of  expense  of  living  in  the  country  counterbalances 
the  lack  of  cash  returns,  and  if  he  is  frugal  he  will  be  able  to 
show  at  the  close  of  the  year  a  cash  balance  as  great  as  that 


too  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

of  a  seemingly  more  successful  neighbor  in  the  city.  The 
German  idea  of  settlement  or  the  Northern  idea  of  smaller 
farms,  and  consequently  a  greater  social  contact,  must  be 
made  to  prevail  in  the  South.  The  State  must  see  to  it  that 
they  give  the  country  boy  and  girl  better  schools,  more  easily 
reached,  longer  terms  and  of  a  higher  grade. 

Farmers'  Congresses  and  Conferences  must  be  held  con 
stantly  to  emphasize  the  advantage  of  rural  life  and  present 
its  attractiveness  in  tangible  form.  Schools  must  do  more 
thoroughly  what  they  attempt  to  do,  and  in  a  limited  way, 
teach  practical  agriculture  as  a  part  of  their  curriculum,  along 
with  horticulture,  landscaping,  gardening,  poultry-raising  and 
other  gainful  forms  of  employment,  and  crown  these  by  creat 
ing  in  the  heart  of  the  country  boy  and  girl  a  love  for  nature, 
and  then  he,  who  dwells  "near  to  nature's  heart,"  will  hear 
her  voices,  listen  to  her  pleadings,  and  live  in  her  company. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  AN  INVENTOR 

INVENTORS'  CONTRIBUTION  TO  CIVILIZATION. — No  men  have 
made  a  greater  contribution  to  modern  civilization  than  in 
ventors,  and  America  has  led  the  van.  Whitney,  Franklin, 
Morse,  Thompson,  Erricson,  Colt,  Bell,  Corliss  and  Edison 
have  contributed  perhaps  more  to  the  progress  of  the  people 
by  their  inventive  genius  than  any  men  of  modern  times,  and 
right  beside  them  can  be  placed  Woods,  McCoy,  Purvis, 
Murray,  Creamer  and  other  members  of  the  Negro  race,  who 
have  also  done  their  part.  The  true  measure  of  a  nation's 
worth  is  its  contribution  to  the  well-being  of  the  world.  This 
can  be  applied  equally  well  to  races,  and.  judging  by  this 
standard,  the  Negro  has  nothing  of  which  to  be  ashamed. 

UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT  AND  INVENTORS. — The  United 
States  Government  distinguishes  inventors  by  nations  and 


OF  THi:  NEGRO  RACE  IOI 

not  by  races.  An  Englishman  and  an  American  can  find  out 
what  he  has  contributed  of  inventive  genius,  but  a  Scotch 
man,  Irishman,  and  especially  a  Negro,  is  kept  in  the  back 
ground.  Only  once  in  the  records  of  the  United  States  is  a 
distinction  made,  and  this  in  the  case  of  Henry  Blair,  "a 
colored  man  of  Maryland,"  who  was  granted  a  patent  for  a 
corn  harvester  in  1834-36.  He  was  evidently  a  free  man, 
hence  this  distinction.  A  slave  could  not  get  out  a  patent  for 
the  simple  reason  that  a  patent  is  a  "contract,"  according  to 
Attorney  General  Black,  and  since  no  Negro  could  make  a 
contract  he  could  get  out  no  patent.  A  slave  of  Jefferson  Davis 
invented  a  propellor  for  vessels,  which  was  used  in  the  Con 
federate  navy.  This  fact  is  well  known,  and  yet  because  he 
was  a  slave  he  could  get  no  patent  for  his  invention. 

How  STATISTICS  OF  NEGRO  INVENTORS  HAVE  BEEN  OB 
TAINED. — All  data  by  which  Negro  inventors  could  be  identified 
in  the  United  States  Patent  Office  has  been  irrevocably  lost, 
and  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  many  inventions  attributed  to 
whites  really  belong  to  Negroes.  This  is  particularly  unfor 
tunate  at  this  time  when  the  Negro  needs  all  he  can  get  to 
place  to  his  credit.  The  employes  of  the  Patent  Office  under 
took  to  collect  a  list  of  Negro  inventors  for  the  Cotton  States 
Centennial  in  1884,  but  met  with  little  success.  Another  fairly 
successful  attempt  was  made  in  1892  for  the  World's  Fair, 
at  Chicago,  and  another  attempt  was  made  in  1893,  for  the 
Negro  Exhibit  at  Atlanta.  But  the  very  best  results  have 
been  obtained  from  the  attempt  that  was  made  for  the -Paris 
Exposition  by  United  States  Commissioner  T.  J.  Calloway  in 
1900.  Letters  were  addressed  to  hundreds  of  patent  lawyers, 
manufacturing  establishments,  newspaper  editors,  and  promi 
nent  men  of  the  race,  asking  if  they  knew  of  and  could  positive- 


102  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

ly  identify  any  colored  patentees  that  had  come  under  their  no 
tice.  One  white  patent  lawyer  made  a  reply  that  the  Negro 
had  never  invented  anything  but  lies.  Notwithstanding  the 
discouragement  that  was  met  with,  400  colored  patentees 
were  positively  identified.  Many  more  had  applied  to  patent 
lawyers  for  assistance,  but  had  been  compelled  to  abandon 
their  effort  to  obtain  patents  for  lack  of  means. 

KIND  OF  PATENTS  AND  SOME  PATENTEES. — The  colored 
patentees  very  naturally  commenced  with  agricultural  imple 
ments  and  culinary  utensils,  as  these  were  the  subjects  with 
which  they  had  most  to  do,  and  that  most  naturally  called  out 
their  inventive  genius,  which  gradually  broadened  to  include 
nearly  every  possible  range  of  subjects.  Elijah  McCoy,  De- 
triot,  Michigan,  heads  the  list  with  twenty-eight  patents, 
relating  particularly  to  lubricating  appliances  for  engineers, 
but  covering  a  large  variety  of  other  subjects.  Granville  T. 
Woods,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  confines  his  inventions  chiefly  to 
electrical  telegraphy,  telephone,  phonograph,  and  to  tele 
graphing  from  moving  trains,  etc.  The  Bell  Company  uses 
some  of  his  appliances.  W.  B.  Purvis,  of  Philadelphia,  has 
sixteen  patents,  dealing  especially  with  paper  bag  machinery, 
but  he  has  also  a  few  others.  F.  J.  Ferrell,  of  New  York, 
has  ten  patents  adapted  to  valves.  Ex-Congressman  Geo.  W. 
Murray  has  eight  patents  on  agricultural  implements.  Wil 
liam  Henry  Creamer  has  seven  patents  on  steam  traps.  Mr. 
Matzeliger  of  Massachusetts,  has  patent  for  attaching  soles 
to  shoes.  Mr.  Joseph  Lee,  of  Boston,  patent  for  a  kneading 
machine.  Miss  Myriam  E.  Benjamin,  of  Massachusetts,  the 
only  colored  woman  patentee,  has  a  patent  on  gong  signals, 
which  is  used  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr.  Eugene 
Burkis,  of  Chicago,  has  an  invention  for  a  rapid-firing  gun. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


I03 


Mr.  Philip  B.  Williams,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  has  a  patent 
for  coupling  cars.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the  inventors  and 
inventions  that  can  be  ascribed  to  the  Negro  race,  but  these 
are  sufficient  to  show  his  capacity  along  inventive  lines,  and 
to  give  reason  for  abundant  hope. 

This  subject  will  be  further  elaborated  upon  in  the  report 
of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Jamestown  Negro  Exhibit. 


104  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER   XIV 
THE  NEGRO  AS  A  REAL  ESTATE  HOLDER  IN  VIRGINIA 

Turned  loose  as  he  was  on  the  3d  day  of  April,  1865, 
without  one  foot  of  land  or  one  dollar  with  which  to  pur 
chase  it,  in  forty-three  years  he  has  accumulated  and  owns 
one  twenty-eighth  of  all  the  land  in  Virginia.  He  owns 
one-sixteenth  of  all  the  land  in  Virginia  east  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  He  owns  one-twelfth  of  all  the  land  in  twenty-eight 
counties  out  of  one  hundred  counties  in  the  State.  He 
owns  one-ninth  of  Middlesex  County,  one-seventh  of  Han 
over  County,  one-third  of  Charles  City  County,  and  he  is 
acquiring  land  at  the  rate  of  about  fifty-five  thousand  acres 
annually.  Their  real  estate  holdings  would  appear  much 
larger,  if  there  were  added  farms  upon  which  they  have 
contracts  and  are  making  payments,  but  have  not  received 
the  title  thereto.  Upon  a  mathematical  per  capita  it  will 
be  clearly  shown  that  the  colored  man  is  largely  exceeding 
his  white  brother  in  acquiring  property,  both  real  and  per 
sonal.  In  order  to  clearly  demonstrate  this  assertion  it 
would  be  well  to  make  calculation  on  this  basis.  Give  the 
white  race  three  hundred  years  of  civilization  and  freedom 
in  this  country,  with  the  aid  and  assistance  of  all  other 
civilized  nations  of  the  globe,  then  '  put  by  his  side  the 
Negro  with  only  forty-three  years  of  freedom,  turned  loose 
entirely  ignorant,  and  without  a  penny.  In  1865,  you  could 
walk  from  the  mountains  to  seacoast  without  meeting  a 
single  colored  man  or  woman  who  could  read  or  write  his 
name,  and  with  all  other  nations  pointing  at  them  with  a 
finger  of  scorn  upon  their  arrival  in  this  country,  and  with 
the  hinderances  and  obstacles  encountered  by  thern  since 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  105 

their  emancipation,  it  will  be  clearly  shown  that  the  Negro 
has  exceeded  all  other  races  in  acquiring  property.  We  do 
not  mention  these  facts  to  the  detriment  of  any  other  race, 
but  upon  investigation  we  find  ourselves  justified  from 
statistics  as  proof  of  our  assertions,  and  since  the  Negro 
appears  to  be  on  trial  and  the  world  is  sitting  in  judgment 
upon  him,  the  object  of  this  writing  is  to  produce  evidence 
that  the  trial  judge  may  render  an  intelligent  decision  on 
the  problem  now  confronting  the  two  races. 

In  Richmond,  Y.irginia,  the  capital  of  the  Southern  Con 
federacy,  a  certain  ward  was  set  apart  especially  for  the 
habitation  of  the  colored  people,  namely,  "Jackson  Ward." 
The  white  people  who  live  among  them  in  this  ward  are 
there  for  the  purpose  of  merchandise.  Three-fourths  of  the 
real  estate  in  this  ward  belongs  to  the  colored  people.  It 
contains  some  of  the  finest  residences  of  the  colored  people 
in  the  State  of  Virginia.  In  this  ward  is  located  the 
True  Reformers'  Hall,  valued  at  over  $75,000,  the  True 
Reformers'  Bank,  valued  at  $50,000,  which  does  a  busi 
ness  of  a  million  dollars  annually ;  both  of  which  are  owned 
and  operated  by  Negroes.  The  Grand  Fountain  United 
Order  of  True  Reformers,  an  organization,  owning  in  its 
own  name  real  estate  to  the  amount  of  $700,000,  holds  it 
annual  sessions  in  the  hall  bearing  its  name  located  in  this 
ward.  This  order  has  a  membership  of  over  200,000,  scat 
tered  throughout  the  country,  especially  where  the  colored 
people  are  most  largely  populated.  The  Grand  Fountain 
United  Order  of  True  Reformers  does  a  large  insurance 
business,  employing  more  than  three  hundred  clerks,  agents 
and  messengers.  In  this  ward  the  Southern  Aid  Insurance 
Company,  a  Negro  corporation,  has  its  headquarters,  sit 
uated  in  a  magnifiecent  building,  valued  at  $25,000.  It  does 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  107 

an  immense  insurance  business,  and  owns  nearly  a  quarter 
of  million  dollars'  worth  of  real  estate.  The  American  Bene 
ficial  Insurance  Company  has  its  office  in  this  ward.  It  does 
a  flourishing  business  and  employs  several  hundred  clerks 
and  agents.  The  Richmond  Beneficial  Insurance  Company, 
one  of  the  oldest  companies  of  its  kind  in  the  State,  also  has 
its  headquarters  in  this  ward,  and  employs  a  large  force. 
There  is  another  insurance  company  in  this  city,  but  it  has  its 
headquarters  on  Broad  Street,  the  United  Aid  Insurance 
Company.  All  four  of  these  companies  have  on  deposit  in  the 
State  Treasury  ten  thousand  dollars  each  as  a  guarantee  and 
protection  to  its  policy-holders.  There  is  also  situated  in 
this  ward  the  Reformers'  Hotel,  conducted  by  the  Grand 
Fountain,  United  Order  of  True  Reformers,  and  also  the 
Miller  Hotel,  one  of  the  largest  colored  hotels  in  the  United 
States.  This  ward  contains  also  several  hundred  grocery 
stores,  among  them  one  wholesale  grocery  store,  conducted 
by  the  True  Reformers,  four  large  drug  stores.  There  is  a 
large  number  of  residences  owned  by  the  colored  people,  and 
one  not  knowing  would  conclude  that  these  residences  are  the 
property  of  rich  white  people ;  among  them  are  the  residences 
of  R.  T.  Hill,  cashier  of  the  Reformers'  Bank,  and  W.  L.  Taylor, 
Grand  Worthy  Master  of  the  Grand  Fountain,  United  Order 
of  True  Reformers.  These  are  beautiful  and  commodious 
residences,  with  subjerb  architectural  effect.  Mr.  Taylor  owns 
seven  or  eight  other  houses  in  this  ward. 

Other  property  holdings  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  as  shown 
by  a  statement  prepared  by  W.  P.  Burrell,  Secretary  of  the 
Grand  Fountain,  United  Order  of  True  Reformers,  whose 
authority  cannot  be  disputed,  are  as  follows : 

In  the  city  of  Richmond,  there  are  twenty-three  colored 


Io8  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Baptist  churches,  one  Catholic  church,  one  Presbyterian,  and 
one  Christian.  The  ministers  are  in  the  main  well  educated 
and  high  class  Christian  gentlemen,  and  the  influence  of  their 
work  is  seen  in  the  daily  life  of  the  people.  The  value  of  the 
church  property  is  $225,000. 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  are  n  colored  attorneys, 
83  colored  barber  shops,  4  colored  banks,  16  blacksmiths 
and  wheelwrights,  I  bookseller,  4  butcher  firms,  I  cabinet 
maker,  2  general  caterers,  6  chair-caiiers,  I  cigar  manufactory, 
23  retail  coal  and  wood  dealers,  21  confectioneries  and  fruit 
dealers,  7  contracting  carpenters  and  builders,  8  plastering 
firms,  6  co-operating  establishments,  4  colored  dentists — 
Drs.  P.  B.  Ramsey  and  D.  A.  Ferguson,  M.  G.  Ramsey  and 
Dr.  Brown,  all  of  whom  do  excellent  work.  There  are  50 
dressmakers,  4  drug  stores,  4  dyeing  and  cleaning  establish 
ments,  2  restaurants  and  32  eating-houses,  i  woman's  ex 
change,  14  fish  and  retail  game  dealers,  3  wholesale  fish  and 
game  dealers,  2  florists,  1 1  funeral  directors  and  embalmers. 
There  are  13  public  halls,  ranging  in  capacity  from  200  to 
1,200;  3  asylums  and  hospitals,  I  boarding-house,  with  a 
capacity  of  25 ;  29  hucksters,  I  jeweler  and  watchmaker,  I 
music  store,  i  junk  dealer,  2  steam  laundries,  8  livery  stables, 
I  locksmith  and  bell  hanger,  i  manufacturers'  agent,  Mr.  W. 
H.  Anderson ;  6  music  teachers,  4  weekly  newspapers,  with 
a  combined  circulation  of  32,000;  8  notary  public,  24  trained 
nurses,  2  photograph  galleries,  2  paperhangers,  12  physicians. 
The  colored  physicians  attend  three-fourths  of  the  43,000 
colored  people.  There  are  6  poultry  dealers,  2  real  estate 
dealers,  15  saloons-keepers,  2  schools  for  higher  education — 
the  Hartshorn  Memorial  College  and  Virginia  Union  Uni 
versity,  with  its  $300,000  plant  for  the  education  of  young 
men.  One  shoe  dealer,  3  burial  associations,  with  a  capital 


& 

CO 


no 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


stock  of  $10,000,  owning  nine  burial  grounds.  One  gent's 
furnishing  store,  with  a  $10,000  stock,  run  by  I.  J.  Miller. 
One  dry  goods  emporium,  with  $10,000  worth  of  dry  goods 
and  millinery,  run  by  the  St.  Luke's. 

PROPERTY  OWNED  BY  NEGROES  IN  OTHER  WARDS. — As 
shown  by  a  statement  prepared  by  John  H.  Braxtcn,  a  colored 
real  estate  dealer  of  the  city  of  Richmond. 


Assessed  Value  of  Property  Owned  by  Colored  People  in  the  City, 


WARD. 

REAL  ESTATE  TO 

Total 

Personal 

Total 
Real  and 
Personal 

1906 

1907 

Clay 

$     72,043 
520,931 
586,364 
74,745 
216,854 
233,185 
240,730 

$     4,835 
39,782 
66,307 

4,825 
7,870 
8,977 
24,558 

$      76,878 
560,713 
652,671 
79,570 
224,724 
242,  1  6  -1 
265,288 

$  21,890 
101,815 
133,510 
28,815 
53,355 
46,760 
85,920 

$       98,768 
662,528 
786,181 
108,385 
278,079 
288,922 
351,208 

Henry  
Monroe.  .  . 
Jofferson  . 
Madifon  .  . 
Marshall.  . 
Lee.  . 

$1,944,852 

$157,154      $2.102,006 

$472,005 

$2,574,071 

OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


III 


Approximate   Value   of  Church  and    Charitable    Property   Exempt 
from    Taxation. 


Real 

Personal 

Total 

First  Baptist  Church  

$      35  000 

$        6  4°5 

$      41  °°5 

Second  Baptist  Church  

45  000 

5  (ICO 

50  000 

Ebenezer  Baptist  Church  .   . 

60  000 

3  000 

63  000 

Fourth  Baptist  Church  

60  000 

15  000 

75  000 

Fifth  Baptist  Church 

10  000 

700 

10  700 

Sixth  Mt.  Zion  Baptist  Church  . 

20  000 

3  500 

23  500 

Moore-Street  Baptist  Church 

2>  000 

2  000 

27  000 

Fifth-Street  Baptist  Church  
Mt.  Calvary  Baptist  ChurHi 

25,000 
3  000 

4,000 
500 

29,000 
3  500 

Rising  JNIt.  Zion  Baptist  Church  
Fountain  Baptist  Churrh  
Sharon  Baptist  Church  
Mt.  Carmel  Baptist  Church  
Mt.  Tabor  Baptist  Church  
Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church 

14,000 
30,000 
15,000 
14,600 
3,500 
900 

600 
1,000 
700 
1,200 
1,000 
300 

14,600 
31,000 
15,700 
15,800 
4,500 
1  200 

Biver  View  Baptist  Church  
First  Union  Baptist  Church.. 

1,350 
2  000 

350 
300 

1,700 
2  300 

Trinity  Baptist  Church  

500 

300 

80C 

New  Baptist  Church  
Bethlehem  Baptist  Church        

4,000 
500 

100 

4,000 
600 

Union  Level  Baptist  Church  
Third-Street  Baptist  Church  

1,200 

1  800 

HCO 

200 

1,500 
2,000 

Pilgrim  Baptist  Church  
Mt.  Vern  on  Baptist  Church  

'300 
800 

100 
200 

400 
1,000 

College  View  Baptist  Church  
Third-Street  A  M  E  Church 

200 

20  000 

50 
3  000 

250 

) 

Third-Street  A.  M.  E.  Church  parsonage,  etc  
Asbury  M.  E.  Church 

2,700 
f>  000 

1  000 

25,700 

7  000 

Leigh-Street  M.  E.  Church  
Bethel  M.  E.  Church  
St.  Philip's  P.  E.  C»nirch  
First  Presbyterian  Church  
St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church,  Nunnery,  Home, 
School    etc 

10.000 
500 
lO.oro 
8,500 

Y>  000 

000 
100 
1,OCO 
1,500 

15  000 

10,900 
600 
11,000 
10,000 

27  000 

Friends  Orphan  Asylum 

5  000 

500 

5  500 

Rd.  Charitable  Union  (O.  F.  Home)  
Woman's  C.  League,  T.  School,  and  Hospital  .  . 
Richmond  Hospital  
Y.  M.  C.  A  

2,500 
40,000 
7,500 
6  000 

200 
5,000 
2,500 
700 

2,700 
45,000 
10.000 
6  700 

$    612,350 

$      78,225 

$    690,575 

Grand  Total  

$2,714,356 

$    550,290 

S3,  264,  646 

112  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER    XV 
THE  NEGRO  IN  LITERATURE 

It  sounds  almost  ridiculous  to  speak  of  the  Negro  in  con 
nection  with  literature.  The  making  of  books  is  about  the 
next  best  thing  a  race  does.  Books  are  born  out  of  necessity 
often,  but  making  of  a  book  requires  leisure,  and  leisure 
presupposes  some  wealth.  The  Negro  child  regards  the 
making  of  a  book  as  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  world.  He 
does  not  know  who  made  it,  but  as  he  goes  on  to  read  it  and 
finds  that  it  tells  all  about  white  people,  and  has  nearly  all 
pictures  of  white  folks — unless  some  few  Negroes  are  placed 
there  in  derision — he  naturally  thinks  the  white  folks  made 
them  all.  He  should  be  taught  as  early  as  possible  that  brain 
is  colorless ;  that  white  and  black  alike,  have  been  makers  of 
books. 

THE  NEGRO  IN  LITERATURE. — The  English  language  is  con 
fessedly  the  most  difficult  language  in  the  world,  being  a 
mixture  of  Latin,  Greek,  French,  and  all  the  older  languages. 
The  mastery  of  the  English  language,  in  any  sense  of  that 
Word,  is  a  wonderful  thing.  Most  Germans  and  Frenchmen 
and  other  foreigners  find  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  manage  it. 
We  are  some  times  told  to  "look  out"  when  we  mean  to  "look 
in,"  as  could  be  testified  to  by  the  man  on  a  railroad  train, 
who  was  told  to  "look  out"  as  a  means  of  warning,  and  had 
his  head  severely  cracked  by  a  telegraph  pole.  No  European 
nation,  except  the  English,  can  pronounce  a  Greek  Theta  as 
the  ancient  Greeks  did.  They  use  "d"  for  "th,"  and  "dis," 
"dat,"  and  "clem"  for  this,  that  and  them.  The  Negro  is 
naturally  no  exception  to  this  rule.  He  uses  in  many  in- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  113 

stances  a  kind  of  pigeon  English  or  dialect.  The  whites 
heard  this  jargon  on  southern  plantations,  and  copied  it,  and 
thus  the  language  of  the  whites  and  blacks  on  southern  plan 
tations  had  a  strange  similarity.  This  dialect  is  different  in 
different  States,  and  even  in  different  parts  of  the  same  State. 
In  Northern  Virginia,  a  vehicle  is  called  a  "fix,"  in  Middle 
Virginia,  a  "trap,"  and  in  Southern  Virginia,  a  "convenience," 
meaning  a  conveyance.  When  a  colored  persons  finds  diffi 
culty  in  using  the  proper  word,  he  does  not  hesitate  to  make 
a  word  to  suit  himself,  and  these  words  have  frequently  been 
incorporated  into  the  language.  "Tote"  is  an  example  of 
the  above.  Some  times  he  makes  crude  mistakes  in  meaning 
of  synonymous  words.  The  president  of  a  prominent  colored 
association  of  ministers,  knowing  that  the  word  "amputate" 
meant  to  "cut  off,"  in  trying  to  explain  his  lateness  at  a  meet 
ing,  said,  with  all  the  dignity  imaginable,  "I  am  sorry  to  be 
late,  but  I  was  amputated."  Yet  the  Negro  with  all  his  crude- 
ness  has  become  a  writer. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  WRITER  Is  NOT  GREAT. — Dumas,  Pushkin 
and  Browning  are  exceptions  to  this  statement.  It  is  a  well- 
known  fact  that  all  of  these  had  Negro  blood  in  their  veins, 
and  Dumas  was  never  ashamed  of  it.  Being  twitted  on  his 
ancestors,  the  following  conversation  took  place  :  "Mr.  Dumas, 
what  was  your  mother?"  "A  Quadroon,"  he  replied.  "What 
was  your  father  ?"  "A  mulatto,"  he  answered.  "What  was  your 
grandfather?"  "A  Negro."  "What  was  your  great-grand 
father?"  "An  Ape,"  he  replied.  "Sir,  my  ancestry  begins 
where  yours  ends."  The  making  of  a  great  writer  is  a  matter 
of  centuries.  England  took  centuries  to  produce  Shakespeare, 
Bacon,  Milton,  or  "Rare"  Ben  Johnson ;  Italy,  a  Dante ; 
Russia,  a  Tolstoi;  France,  a  Victor  Hugo;  Germany,  a 


114  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Goethe  or  Schiller.  America  has  not  yet  produced  a  writer 
that  deserves  to  rank  with  these,  not  even  Browning  and 
Hawthorne  can  stand  with  them.  A  great  writer  must  not 
only  have  a  national  or  racial  quality,  but  a  universal  quality 
as  well.  The  Negro  has  done  well  to  produce  writers  deserv 
ing  to  be  mentioned  in  the  same  breath  with  the  extremely 
few  great  writers  of  the  world. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  HISTORICAL  WRITER. — It  was  natural  for 
the  Negro  to  start  out  to  write  history.  His  own  unique  posi 
tion  and  his  surroundings  furnished  a  fruitful,  natural  and 
intensely  interesting  theme.  George  Williams  perhaps  ranks 
first  as  an  historical  writer.  His  "History  of  the  Negro  Race'* 
is  the  best  perhaps  that  has  yet  been  produced,  and  his  "Troops 
in  the  Rebellion"  deserves  to  rank  with  it.  "The  White  Side 
of  a  Black  Subject,"  by  E.  H.  Crogman,  and  "Talks  for  the 
Times,"  by  the  same  writer,  are  good.  I.  Garland  Penn,  of 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  has  compiled  a  very  excellent  historical 
volume,  known  as  the  "Afro-American  Press  and  Its  Editor." 
In  connection  with  Dr.  J.  W.  E.  Bowen,  he  has  written  a 
very  helpful  book ;  "The  Twentieth  Century  Negro,  His 
Progress  and  Problems."  Joseph  T.  Wilson,  of  Virginia,  has 
also  been  a  very  fruitful  writer.  "The  Black  Phalanx"  is  his 
best  book,  but  he  has  also  written  "Twenty-two  Years  of 
Freedom,"  "Emancipation,"  and  the  '.'Voice  of  a  New  Race," 
which  are  well  worthy  of  perusal.  "Freedom  and  Citizenship" 
is  the  best  historical  book  of  the  late  John  M.  Langstoru  who 
was  at  one  time  dean  of  the  law  department  of  Howard  Uni 
versity  and  a  member  of  Congress  from  the  Fourth  District 
of  Virginia.  He  has  written  "From  a  Virginia  Plantation  to 
the  National  Capital,"  "Lectures  and  Addresses."  "Men  of 
Mark,"  by  William  Simmons,  D.  D.,  who  was,  in  his  day,  a 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  115 

great  Baptist  clergyman  and  presides:  of  the  State  University 
of  Kentucky,  is  a  book  well  worthy  of  a  place  in  any  man's 
library. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  PROSE  WRITER. — As  has  been  stated,  most 
of  his  prose  writings  are  historical  rather  than  didactic.  "The 
Under  Ground  Railroad,"  by  Dr.  William  Still,  is  both  his 
torical  and  didactic.  It  gives  a  thrilling  and  accurate  account 
of  the  kidnapping  and  the  escape  of  slaves,  of  their  trials 
while  seeking  a  land  of  freedom,  and  gives  a  short  history  of 
some  of  the  individuals  who  figured  prominently  in  that  day. 
"The  Story  of  My  Life,"  by  Amanda  Smith,  who  still  lives, 
though  of  ripe  old  age,  should  be  in  every  home.  Perhaps 
one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best  written  book,  comes  as  an 
offering  from  Liberia,  Dr.  Edward  Wilmot  Blyden  being  its 
author.  "Christianity,  Islam  and  the  Negro  Race"  is  the  sub 
ject  of  this  exhaustive  and  accurate  treatise.  He  has  also 
written  "From  West  Africa  to  Palestine."  "The  Rising  Sun," 
by  Dr.  William  Wells  Browne,  is  another  valuable  contribu 
tion.  He  has  also  written  "The  Negro  in  the  Rebellion,"  and 
"The  Black  Man."  Frederick  Douglas,  the  sage  of  Anicosta, 
contributes  three  volumes,  "Life  and  Times  of  Frederick 
Douglas,"  "My  Bondage  and  My  Freedom,"  and  "Narrative 
of  My  Experience  in  Slavery."  Bishop  D.  A.  Payne,  of  the 
A.  M.  E.  Church  has  written  "Recollections  of  Seventy  Years," 
"Domestic  Education,"  "History  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church," 
"Official  Sermons,"  and  the  "Semi-Centennial  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church."  These  are  all  valuable,  especially  as  they  relate  to 
the  history  of  the  foremost  church  managed  and  controlled  by 
Negroes.  An  interesting  little  volume  is  that  of  Rev.  William 
Troy,  at  one  time  pastor  and  citizen  of  Richmond,  Virginia, 
namely :  "Hair-Breadth  Escapes  from  Slavery  to  Freedom." 


Il6  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Dr.  Booker  T.  Washington  has  been  a  most  prolific  writer; 
his  best  volumes  being  "Up  from  Slavery,"  "Story  of  My  Life 
and  Work,"  and  "The  New  Negro  for  the  New  Century." 
Bishop  H.  M.  Turner,  senior  bishop  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church, 
has  contributed  "African  Letters,"  "Methodist  Polity," 
"The  Negro  in  all  Ages,"  "Apology  for  American 
Methodism,"  "Is  the  Negro  Cursed?"  "Outlines  of  History," 
"The  Negro's  Origin,"  "The  Negro — African  and  American," 
"Theological  Lectures."  One  of  the  best  books  written  by 
a  woman  is  "The  Voice  from  the  South,"  by  Mrs.  Anna  J. 
Cooper,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  "The  Twentieth  Century 
Literature,"  by  Dr.  D.  W.  Gulp,  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
best  books  yet  produced.  It  consists  of  essays  by  one  hun 
dred  of  the  leading  Negroes  of  the  country  on  questions  af 
fecting  the  race.  It  is  natural  that  the  older  men  should  have 
written  most  of  the  books  along  the  line  that  they  did  write. 
The  younger  men  have  struck  a  different  key. 

POETICAL  BOOKS. — Along  with  historical  and  prose  writings, 
it  was  but  natural  that  souls  full  of  faith  and  suffering  should 
have  attempted  to  put  these  thoughts  into  verse.  The  first  to 
so  express  herself  as  to  catch  the  ear  of  the  world  was  Phillis 
Wheatly,  who  was  brought  on  a  slave  ship  to  Boston  and 
bought  by  Mrs.  Wheatly.  Her  poetry  called  for  expressions 
of  appreciation  and  brought  forth  the  following  letter  from 
George  Washington,  the  Father  of  the  Country : 

"Miss  Phillis:  CAMBRIDGE,  Feb.  28,  1776. 

"Your  favor  of  the  26th  of  October,  did  not  reach  my  hands 
until  the  middle  of  December.  I  thank  you  most  sincerely  for 
your  polite  notice  of  me  in  the  elegant  lines  you  enclosed; 
and  however  undeserving,  I  may  be  of  such  encomium  and 
panegyric,  the  style  and  manner  exhibits  a  striking  proof  of 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  117 

your  poetical  talents,  in  honor  of  which,  and  as  a  tribute 
justly  due  to  you,  I  would  have  published  the  poem,  had  I 
not  been  apprehensive  that,  while  I  only  meant  to  give  the 
world  this  new  instance  of  your  genius,  I  might  have  incurred 
the  imputation  of  vanity.  This  and  nothing  else,  determined 
me  not  to  give  it  place  in  the  public  prints. 

"If  you  should  ever  come  to  Cambridge,   or  near  head 
quarters,  I  shall  be  happy  to  see  a  person  so  favored  by  the 
Muses,  and  to  whom  Nature  has  been  so  liberal  and  bene 
ficent  in  her  dispensations.     I  am  with  great  respect, 
"Your  humble  servant, 

"GEORGE  WASHINGTON." 

Mrs.  Francis  Ellen  Watkins  Harper,  who  still  lives  in 
Philadelphia,  has  written  some  beautiful  books  of  poems. 
"Moses,"  "Story  of  the  Nile,"  "Sketch  of  Southern  Life," 
"Shalmanezer,"  "Sparrow's  Fall  and  Other  Poems,"  "Mis 
cellaneous  Poems"  have  all  come  from  her  prolific  pen,  and 
are  well  worth  reading.  George  M.  Horton,  a  slave,  was  also 
gifted  along  this  line.  He  would  dictate  his  poems  to  others, 
he  himself  being  unable  to  read  or  write.  A.  A.  Whitman, 
said  by  some  to  be  the  equal  of  Dunbar,  has  also  done  some 
splendid  work.  "Not  a  Man  and  Yet  a  Man,"  "The  Rape  of 
Florida,"  and  "Poems"  by  him  have  received  considerable 
attention.  J.  D.  Corruthers  has  also  written  some  excellent 
poetry.  Daniel  Webster  Davis  has  given  three  books  to  the 
public:  "Idle  Moments,"  "Way  Down  Souf,"  and  "A  Night 
on  the  Old  Plantation."  The  first  place  as  a  writer  of  poetry 
must  be  given  to  Paul  Laurence  Dunbar,  who  sang  a  sweet 
song  but  for  a  short  space  and  then  came  night.  He  was  a 
most  industrious  and  indefatigable  worker  notwithstanding  his 
state  of  health.  He  was  best  in  dialect  poetry  and  good  in 


Ii8  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

all.  His  best  dialect  poems  are,  "When  Malinda  Sings,"  and 
the  "Party."  Perhaps  his  best  in  pure  English  is,  "The 
Warrior's  Prayer."  He  has  written  "Oak  and  Ivy,"  "Majors 
and  Minors,"  "Lyrics  of  Lowly  Life,"  "Lyrics  of  the  Hearth- 
Stone,"  "Poems  of  Cabin  and  Field,"  "Candle-Lightin'  Time." 
"When  Malinda  Sings,"  "The  Negro  Love  Song."  Stanley 
Braithewaite  is  bidding  fair  to  become  a  great  writer,  and 
hundreds  of  dialect  writers  are  seeking  to  fill  the  place  left 
vacant  by  the  immortal  Dunbar. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  TEXT-BOOK  WRITER. — It  seems  a  pity  and 
yet  natural  that  the  Negro  has  written  such  few  text-books, 
but  we  are  glad  to  see  that  this  field  is  being  diligently  pur 
sued.  W.  S.  Scarborough,  has  written  "First  Lessons  in 
Greek,"  "Latin  Modes  and  Tenses,"  and  "Questions  on  Latin 
Grammar."  These  are  splendid  books  and  are  being  used  in 
many  of  the  best  schools  of  the  land.  J.  E.  Bruce  (Bruce 
Grit),  of  Albany,  New  York,  has  in  manuscript  form  a 
School  Reader,  with  selections  from  Negro  authors.  Silas 
X.  Floyd,  of  Augusta,  Georgia,  has  also  written  a  book  of 
the  same  nature,  known  as  "Floyd's  Flowers."  Professor 
Kelly  Miller,  professor  of  mathematics  at  Howard  Univer 
sity,  is  preparing  a  geometry  for  school  use;  and  "Gram 
mar  Land,"  by  Mrs.  Scruggs,  is  also  receiving  much  notice. 
Numbers  of  teachers  of  the  race  have  frequently  expressed  to 
the  writers  their  desire  to  put  in  permanent  form  notes  that 
they  have  been  using  for  years  and  found  valuable  in  teach 
ing  ordinary  subjects  of  the  school-room.  We  would  express 
the  hope  that  this  may  soon  be  done,  as  it  will  prove  a  valua 
ble  impetus  to  Negro  progress. 

THE  NEGRO  IN  FICTION. — As  a  writer  of  fiction,  the  Negro 
is  beginning  to  become  prominent.  "The  Boy  Doctor,"  by 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  119 

Dr.  R.  C.  O.  Benjamin;  "Poor  Ben,"  by  Mrs.  L.  N.  C.  Cole- 
man  ;  "Aunt  Linda,"  by  Mrs.  Victoria  Earle  Matthews ; 
"Shadows  Uplifted,"  by  Mrs.  F.  E.  W.  Harper;  "Clar 
ence  and  Corinne"  and  the  "Hazeley  Family,"  by  Mrs  A.  E. 
Johnson;  "Imperio  In  Imperium,"  and  the  "Hindered  Hand," 
by  Sutton  E.  Griggs,  are  a  few  of  the  books  of  fiction  that 
demand  a  large  number  of  readers.  The  late  Paul  Laurence 
Dunbar  also  did  some  good  work  in  fiction.  "The  Uncalled," 
"Folks  from  Dixie,"  "Strength  of  Gideon,"  "Sport  of  the 
Gods,"  and  the  "Love  of  Landy"  are  his  best  known  books. 
Mrs.  Alice  Ruth  Moore  Dunbar  has  also  contributed  "Violets" 
and  the  "Goodness  of  Saint  Roch."  Charles  W.  Chestnut 
has  done  some  splendid  work,  although  he  writes  more  like  a 
white  man  writing  about  Negroes  than  a  Negro  writing  about 
his  own  people.  His  best  works  are  "The  Conjure  Woman," 
"The  Wife  of  His  Youth,"  "Biography  of  Fred  Douglas," 
and  "The  House  Behind  the  Cedars." 

THE  ORIGIN  AND  SCOPE  OF  His  \VORK. — First,  it  has  been 
biographical,  to  let  the  world  know  what  he  is  and  what  he 
has  done.  The  history  of  the  world  is  but  the  history  of  a 
few  great  men,  and  this  equally  true  of  races.  Second,  his 
work  has  been  religious.  The  Negro  being  naturally  religious 
he  has  written  much  along  this  line.  There  have  been  many 
volumes  of  sermons,  few  good,  some  indifferent  and  some 
bad.  Blyden  is  our  best  writer  on  religious  themes."  Bishop 
Payne,  Dr.  Brawley,  Dr.  A.  Binga,  Jr.,  Bishop  Turner,  Bishop 
Hood  rank  close  behind.  Third,  scientific  works  ;  there  have 
been  few  scientific  works.  Banneker,  on  Science ;  R.  C.  Bates, 
on  "Architecture  and  Building,";  J.  E.  Gordon,  on  "Politics"; 
Prof.  D.  B.  Williams,  late  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  in 
what  was,  in  his  day,  the  Virginia  Normal  and  Collegiate 


120  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Institute,  on  "The  Science  and  Art  of  Teaching,"  and  a  valua 
ble  series  of  lectures  and  addresses  written  by  himself,  con 
stitute  the  principal  writers  on  scientific  subjects.  Sociological 
themes  are  beginning  to  be  a  serious  subject  of  study  among 
the  Negroes  of  this  country.  Dr.  W.  E.  B.  Dubois  and  Prof. 
Kelly  Miller  are  our  leading  writers  on  sociological  subjects. 
Dr.  Dubois  has  written  two  books  that  are  exceedingly  valua 
ble,  "Suppression  of  African  Slave  Trade,"  and  "Soul  of  the 
Black  Folk."  The  Papers  of  the  American  Negro  Academy, 
of  the  Atlanta  Conference  and  "the  Hampton  Conference, 
issued  from  time  to  time,  have  been  very  valuable.  "The; 
Cushite,"  by  Perry;  "The  Hamite,"  by  Dr.  Harvey  Johnson, 
of  Baltimore,  "The  Scourging  of  a  Race,"  by  Dr.  W.  Bishop 
Johnson,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  "The  Negro  Race 
Pioneers  in  Civilization,"  by  the  late  Dr.  D.  B.  Williams,  are 
splendid  contributions  to  sociological  literature. 

THE  NEGRO  MUST  WRITE  OF  HIMSELF. — To  be  great  in 
literature  the  Negro  must  write  of  himself.  The  Greeks, 
Romans  and  Hebrews  all  wrote  of  their  own  race.  Shake 
speare  wrote  of  England,  Burns  wrote  of  Scotland,  Haw 
thorne  of  America,  and  made  for  themselves  a  place  in  the 
literature  of  the  world.  Negro  traditions,  superstition  and 
folk-lore  will  furnish  an  almost  inexhaustible  field  for  the 
poet  and  the  novelist.  His  epic  is  yet  to  be  written ;  who  will 
write  it?  His  drama  is  not  yet  written.  Many  have  tried 
and  have  almost  succeeded,  but  the  world  has  not  yet  heard 
it  in  all  its  intensity.  Written  in  dialect  his  effort  will  captivate 
the  world.  Dunbar,  Chestnut,  Blyden  and  perhaps  Dubois, 
have  made  their  places  secure  in  the  literature  of  the  world. 
The  world  wants  more  joy  and  sunshine  than  sorrow  and  tears. 
The  Negro  is  ready  to  give  this  joy  and  the  world  is  waiting 
for  it. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  121 

NEGRO  NEWSE>APERS. — The  Negro  has  never  yet  produced 
a  great  newspaper,  and  it  is  not  expected  that  he  should  in 
such  a  short  space  of  time.  The  New  York  Age,  under 
Thomas  Fortune,  was  perhaps  the  best  that  we  have  had. 
The  Dallas  Express  ranks  close  behind.  The  Colored  Ameri 
can,  by  the  late  E.  E,  Cooper,  bade  fair  to  be  a  great  paper. 
The  Freeman,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  The  Southwestern 
Christian  Advocate  are  among  the  best.  The  great  Negro 
newspaper  has  yet  to  come. 

NEGRO  MAGAZINES. — The  Negro  has  published  a  number 
of  magazines  that  have  been  of  credit  to  him.  The  A.  M.  E. 
Church  Review,  The  Colored  American  Magazine,  the  late 
Voice  of  the  Negro,  Howard's  Magazine,  Alexander 's  Maga 
zine.  McGirt's  Magazine  are  worthy  of  mention. 

NEGROES  ON  WHITE  JOURNALS. — Charles  Stewart  has  free 
access  to  a  large  number  of  white  newspapers  and  magazines 
and  is  doing  excellent  work.  Prof.  G.  W.  Henderson,  of 
Straight  University;  Prof.  W.  H.  Council,  before  his  health 
began  to  fail ;  Booker  T.  Washington,  and  the  late  Paul 
Laurence  Dunbar,  and  a  few  others  have  written  excellent 
articles  for  white  newspapers. 


122  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

CHAPTER   XVI 
THE  NEGRO  IN  ART 

As  literature  represents  the  next  highest  degree  of  culture, 
art  represents  the  highest.  Artistic  taste  is  recognized  the 
world  over  as  the  best  thing  that  man  can  do.  That  the  Negro 
at  this  stage  of  development  should  make  any  pretentions  to 
art  is  one  of  the  marvels  of  history.  Oratory  and  music  seem 
to  be  a  natural  gift  to  the  Negro,  and  he  is  rapidly  putting 
them  to  the  best  possible  use. 

ART  IN  THE  PAST. — As  a  slave,  he  came  little  in  contact 
with  the  artistic ;  landscape  gardening  being  practically  un 
known  to  the  whites  upon  the  old  plantations.  England  has 
always  been  artistic.  America  strove  for  the  natural.  The 
houses  were  built  in  a  plain  but  commodious  manner.  The 
paintings  on  the  walls  were  usually  crude,  though  occasion 
ally  some  old  master-pieces  could  be  found.  Heppelwhite 
and  Chippendale  furniture  was  the  property  of  a  few  of  the 
very  wealthiest  famalies,  and  the  average  corn-field  Negro 
was  never  allowed  in  these  sacred  precincts.  His  dress  might 
have  been  picturesque,  but  not  artistic.  Dirty  floors  and  uncov 
ered  walls  were  no  incentive  to  artistic  tendencies ;  yet  the 
Negro  in  this  short  time  has  done  something  along  all 
artistic  lines. 

PAINTINGS. — The  best  painter  the  Negro  has  yet  produced 
is  Henry  O.  Tanner,  who  is  the  son  of  Bishop  Tanner,  and 
was  born  and  reared  in  Philadelphia.  He  struggled  with 
poverty,  started  a  photograph  gallery  in  Atlanta,  and  failed, 
taught  free-hand  drawing,  and  finally  secured  an  opportunity 
to  study  his  beloved  art  in  Paris.  His  first  great  picture  was 


124  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

sold  to  Mr.  Ogden.  The  subject  is  "The  First  Lesson  on 
the  Bag  Pipe,"  which  was  exhibited  at  the  Columbian  Exposi 
tion.  This  splendid  picture  now  hangs  on  the  walls  of  the 
magnificent  Huntington  Library  Building  at  Hampton 
School,  being  a  gift  to  that  school  by  Mr.  Ogden  himself, 
who  is  one  of  its  trustees.  Some  of  his  other  pictures  that 
have  brought  him  fame  and  wealth  are  "Daniel  in  the  Loin's 
Den,"  which  received  honorable  mention  at  the  Columbian 
Exposition,  and  up  to  a  short  time  ago  the  "Raising  of 
Lazarus"  was  considered  his  best  work.  A  recent  work  of 
his  has  served  to  place  him  even  higher  on  the  ladder  of 
fame.  He  makes  his  home  in  Paris  and  enjoys  the  patronage 
of  all  lovers  of  art  in  that  great  center. 

Clark  Hampton,  who  supports  a  widowed  mother,  and  who 
is  yet  a  very  young  man,  is  a  real  genius.  "Napoleon's 
Waterloo"  and  "Waiting  in  the  Wilderness"  are  his  best 
works ;  and  in  a  modest  studio  he  is  often  heard  to  say,  "If 
I  live  the  race  shall  yet  be  proud  of  me." 

SCULPTURE. — Miss  Edmonia  Lewis  takes  first  rank  in  this 
line  of  art.  She  is  a  lady  of  lowly  birth  and  was  left  an  orphan 
at  an  early  age.  She  saw  the  statue  of  Franklin  in  Boston, 
when  quite  a  child,  and  said,  "I,  too,  can  make  a  stone  man." 
She  was  introduced  to  one  of  Boston's  famous  sculptors,  who 
gave  her  the  first  start  in  her  chosen  profession.  She  was 
able  to  go  to  Rome  to  pursue  her  studies.  "Hager  in  the 
Wilderness,"  "Hiawatha's  Wooing,"  are  perhaps  her  best 
studies ;  while  her  busts  of  Longfellow,  Browning  and  Wendell 
Phillips  have  received  much  attention.  Mrs.  May  Howard, 
now  Mrs.  Sherman  Jackson,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  has  a 
wonderful  gift  along  this  line,  and  Miss  Wilson,  formerly  of 
Washington,  is  also  a  painter  and  sculptor  of  no  mean  ability. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  125 

Mr.  Isaac  Hathaway  is  a  young  sculptor  of  great  promise. 
Miss  Meta  Vaux  Warrick  is  one  of  our  late  sculptors,  who 
is  receiving  much  attention.  An  account  of  Miss  Warrick, 
together  with  a  sketch  of  the  Historical  Tableaux  prepared 
by  her  for  the  Negro  Exhibit  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition, 
appears  later. 

ACTORS  AND  ELOCUTIONISTS. — J.  A.  Arneaux  ranks  among 
the  first  of  the  race  along  this  line.  His  father  was  a  Parisian, 
and  his  mother  of  French  descent.  He  was  born  in  Georgia 
in  1855,  and  was  graduated  at  Beach's  Institute.  He  studied 
languages  in  New  York  in  order  to  become  more  proficient 
in  his  chosen  profession.  He  then  visited  Paris,  and  took  a 
course  in  elocution  in  the  Royal  Academy.  He  played  lago  in 
1884,  with  wonderful  success.  He  formed  the  Astoria  Place 
Tragedy  Company,  and  essayed  Richard  the  Third,  and  is  said 
to  have  excelled  in  this  character.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the 
New  York  Consevatory  of  Music.  In  elocution  Ira  Aldrige 
ranks  as  the  father  of  tragedy  so  far  as  the  Negro  is  con 
cerned.  He  was  born  in  Belair,  near  Baltimore,  in  1804. 
He  was  brought  in  contact  with  Edmund  Keene,  who  was  so 
pleased  with  young  Aldrige  that  he  took  him  through  Europe. 
He  played  the  difficult  role  of  Othello  in  the  best  London 
theatres.  In  Ireland  he  played  Othello  and  Keene,  lago.  He 
appeared  in  Germany  in  1852,  and  won  fresh  laurels  there. 
The  King  of  Prussia  was  so  charmed  with  his  acting  that  he 
made  him  a  chevalier.  He  rose  to  the  very  top  of  his  pro 
fession  and  deserves  to  rank  with  the  best  for  his  histrionic 
ability.  Henri  Strange,  of  Philadelphia,  Ednorah  Nahi,  Hallie 
Q.  Brown,  Hogan,  of  ministrel  fame ;  Henrietta  Vinton  Davis, 
of  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  the  wonderful  Williams  and 
Walker  have  made  not  only  histrionic  success,  but  some 


126  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

money  as  well.  Herman  Moore,  the  prestigiator,  Hurle 
Bavardo,  the  actor,  Davis,  of  Washington,  and  others  have 
won  fame  on  the  stage.  Richard  B.  Harrison  was  born  in 
London,  Canada,  1864,  and  was  one  of  the  greatest  dramatic 
readers  of  the  age.  Mrs.  Adrienna  Herndon,  of  Atlanta, 
Georgia;  Charles  Winter  Wrood,  of  Tuskegee,  Alabama,  and 
many  others  have  done  splendid  work. 

ORATORY. — The  Negro  is  a  natural  born  orator,  and  talking 
seems  to  be  a  second  nature.  Even  the  darker  days  of  slavery 
developed  a  degree  of  oratory.  The  art  of  expressing  one's 
self  clearly  and  forcibly  is  a  thing  to  be  much  desired.  Some 
of  the  greatest  orators  that  the  race  has  produced  have  been 
Frederick  Douglas,  J.  C.  Price,  J.  W.  E.  Bowen,  John  M. 
Langston,  E.  C.  Morris,  Jas.  H.  Hayes,  Gregory  W.  Hayes, 
N.  C.  Granderson,  Charles  S.  Morris,  C.  T.  Walker,  W.  A. 
Credit,  John  R.  Hawkins  and  W.  T.  Vernon. 

Music  is  as  old  as  the  world  itself.  Heirschel  speaks  of 
tlie  music  of  the  spheres,  and  Young  tells  us  that  the  world 
rolled  around  their  season  in  a  "choir  forever  charming  and 
forever  new."  Its  history  is  enveloped  in  profoundest  mys 
tery.  Its  infancy  was  spent  in  Greece. 

"When  music,  heavenly  maid,  was  young, 
While  yet  in  early  Greece  she  sung; 
The  Passions  oft,  to  hear  her  swell, 
Thronged  around  her  magic  cell." 

The  first  music  of  which  we  read  was  that  used  for  the 
worship  of  God.  Not  only  human  voices  were  used  to  sing 
the  praise  of  the  Heavenly  Master,  but  every  possible  kind  of 
instrument  was  brought  in  vogue  to  the  same  end.  Music  is 
born  of  suffering  or  of  joy.  Dr.  Antonio  D.  Vorak  says,  I 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  127 

am  satisfied  that  the  future  music  of  this  country  must  be 
founded  on  what  is  called  Negro  melody — the  only  Ameri 
can  music."  This  is  indeed  true.  The  splendid  melodies — 
"Nobody  Knows  de  Trouble  I  see,"  "My  God's  Writin'  alt 
de  Time,"  "View  de  Land  I'm  a  Rolling,"  "  'Gwine  to  Ride 
up  in  de  Chayot,"  and  others  are  beautiful  and  inspiring,  and 
accord  with  the  spirit  of  Him  who  marks  the  sparrow's  fall 
and  loves  the  lowly  and  the  humble.  Thanks  to  Hampton, 
Tuskegee,  and  other  schools  that  are  rapidly  following  this 
line.  This  sweet  old  music  is  destined  to  retain  its  place  in 
the  history  of  the  world. 

NEGRO  COMPOSERS. — As  little  as  it  may  be  known,  the  great 
est  composer  was  Justin  Holland,  who  was  born  in  Norfolk 
County,  Virginia,  in  1819.  As  a  child  he  improvised  music 
from  words  taken  from  old  song  books  Without  music.  At 
fourteen  he  went  to  Boston  to  live.  His  first  teacher  was 
Simon  Knachel,  of  Kendall's  Brass  Band.  He  played  the 
guitar,  flute  and  piano.  He  completed  his  musical  education 
in  Oberlin,  after  which  he  became  a  teacher  oi  music,  and  has 
arranged  more  than  three  hundred  pieces  for  the  guitar.  S. 
Brainard  Sons,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  made  use  of  him  to  this 
end.  His  chief  book  was  "Holland's  Comprehensive  Method 
for  the  Guitar,"  which  is  considered  by  many  to  be  the  be^t 
book  published  along  this  line.  Joseph  White  was  born  in 
Montanzas,  Cuba.  He  had  a  violin  as  soon  as  he  could  ho'd 
one.  He  went  to  Paris  in  1856,  at  the  suggestion  of  Gotch- 
chalk,  and  graduated  from  the  conservatory  there  in  1856. 
He  arranged  "Stryrienne,"  and  "Carnival  of  Venice,"  and 
lived  in  Paris  for  a  number  of  years,  after  which  he  came  to 
America  and  won  great  laurels,  especially  in  Boston.  S. 
Coleridge  Taylor  is  the  greatest  living  Negro  musician.  He 


128  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

is  a  native  of  London,  England,  and  easily  takes  high  rank 
among  the  composers  of  any  race.  He  is  highly  respected 
by  all  people  irrespective  of  race.  His  "Hiawatha"  and 
"Atonement,"  as  sung  by  the  Choral  Society,  of  Washington, 
D.  C,  elicited  unstinted  praise  from  the  highest  musical 
critics.  Gussie  L.  Davis,  the  popular  song  writer,  has  writ 
ten,  "In  the  Baggage  Coach  Ahead,"  which  has  brought  tears 
to  many  eyes,  and  "Just  Tell  Them  That  You  Saw  Me," 
which  has  caused  many  a  girl,  inclined  to  be  wayward,  to  think 
on  her  ways.  Will  Cook's  "Mandy"  is  a  beautiful  little  "coon 
song."  Harry  Burley,  the  famous  baritone  songster,  is  also 
a  composer  of  no  mean  ability.  One  of  the  best  songs  is 
"Old  Blandford  Church,"  by  Miss  Lucinda  Bragg.  Wendell 
Phillips  Dabney,  now  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  is  a  musical  genius, 
and  his  "Leathern  Trunk"  and  several  of  his  sacred  songs 
have  met  with  remarkable  favor. 

NEGRO  SINGERS. — The  greatest  of  Negro  singers  was  Eliza 
beth  Taylor  Greenfield  (Black  Swan),  whose  charming  voice 
has  stirred  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe ;  The  Luca  Family, 
Nellie  Brown  Mitchell,  Gerard  Miller,  Madam  Selika  and  her 
husband,  Flora  Batson,  Sidney  Woodward,  T.  J.  Louden, 
Harry  Burley,  Sisseretta  Jones,  Miss  Brazely,  of  New  Orleans, 
have  also  made  themselves  great  reputations  as  solo  singers. 
The  Fisk  Jubilee  Singers,  the  Macadoo  Singers,  of  Hampton, 
the  Hampton  Quartette  and  others  have  sung  to  the  world 
Negro  songs  and  made  for  the  Negro  a  place  in  music  that 
can  never  be  gainsaid.  Church  choirs  among  the  Negroes  are 
also  a  means  of  attraction  to  the  house  of  God,  and  the  music 
sung  by  these  choirs  is  frequently  of  the  highest  order. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  129 

CHAPTER   XVII 
NEGRO  WOMANHOOD 

While  all  that  has  been  said  applies  with  equal  force  to 
male  and  female,  while  women  have  entered  every  possible 
walk  of  life,  even  the  military,  and  succeeded,  yet  we  feel  that 
her  peculiar  importance  in  race  development  demands  for  her 
a  separate  chapter. 

NEGRO  WOMEN  IN  SLAVERY. — During  the  days  of  slavery 
the  Negro  woman  had  no  home  of  which  she  could  become 
the  queen.  The  family  tie  was  practically  unknown,  and 
motherhood  became  a  burden  rather  than  a  pleasure.  She 
had  practically  no  control  of  her  own  offsprings,  and  could 
be  sold  like  cattle  at  the  will  of  the  master.  % 

WOMAN'S  PLACE  IN  RACE  DEVELOPMENT. — She  must  give 
the  children  their  first  education.  When  she  teaches  her 
young  child  to  talk  she  is  training  him  in  language ;  when 
she  teaches  him  to  count,  she  is  giving  him  first  lessons  in 
mathematics ;  when  she  tells  him  the  names  and  habits  of 
domestic  animals,  she  is  teaching  zoology;  when  she  teaches 
the  use  of  the  hands  and  the  feet,  she  is  teaching  physiology ; 
when  she  attempts  to  describe  to  him  the  beautiful  flower 
that  blooms  by  the  roadside,  she  is  instructing  him  in  botany ; 
when  she  points  out  places  and  directions  she  is  giving  a 
lesson  in  geography;  when  she  calls  his  attention  to  the 
moon,  the  sun,  and  the  beautiful  stars  that  stud  the  heavens, 
she  is  teaching  him  astronomy ;  when  she  reproves  him  for  his 
misdeeds,  she  is  teaching  him  lessons  of  truth,  and  is  delving 
in  moral  philosophy ;  and  if  she  tells  him  of  God  and  heaven, 


130  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

she  is  giving  a  lesson  in  theology.  When  she  teaches  her  youngi 
girl  sweeping  and  dusting,  she  is  giving  her  a  course  in 
domestic  science ;  when  she  teaches  her  boy  to  saw  wood  and 
bring  in  the  water,  she  is  giving  him  manual  training.  Happy 
is  that  child  whose  earliest  years  were  blessed  with  an  intelli 
gent  mother.  Since  the  stream  can  rise  no  higher  than  its 
source,  so  the  mother  must  play  an  important  part  in  the 
progress  of  the  race. 

THE  RACE'S  DEBT  TO  THE  WOMEN  OF  THE  PAST. — This  is  a 
debt  that  can  never  be  paid.  The  mothers  who  toiled  night 
and  day  to  give  their  children  an  education,  conferred  a  last 
ing  blessing  upon  the  whole  race,  and  their  power  and  influ 
ence  can  never  be  forgotten.  The  mother  of  the  great  Dr. 
Simmons,  of  Kentucky,  made  him  what  he  was.  The  wife 
of  Frederick  Douglas  was  his  comforter  and  helper,  and  all 
men  and  women  to-day  who  have  amounted  to  anything  in 
the  world  can  almost  invariably  point  to  a  woman's  hand 
that  first  led  the  way.  Our  race  has  been  a  race  of  mothers, 
because  of  the  fact  that  peculiar  conditions  made  the  mother 
almost  the  sole  keeper  of  the  child  so  far  as  his  training  was 
concerned.  Amanda  Smith,  Charlotte  Cushman,  Fannie 
Jackson  Coppin,  Sojourner  Truth,  and  hundreds  of  others 
have  been  a  blessing  to  the  race,  and  will  be  until  time  shall 
be  no  more.  The  new  mother  may  be  a  great  improvement 
on  the  old  mother  in  ability,  but  not  in  influence.  Any  home 
may  be  frequently  a  place  of  beauty,  but  not  always  a  joy 
forever,  for 

Home  is   not  merely  four  square  walls, 
Though  with  pictures  hung  and  gilded, 

Home  is  where  affection  calls, 

Filled  with  shrines  the  heart  hath  builded." 


OF  77/71  NEGRO  RACE  131 

.Home,  go  ask   the  wandering  dove, 

Sailing  in  the  sky  above  us ; 
Home  is  where  there's  one  to  love, 

Home  is  where  there's  one  to  love  us. 

THE  NEGRO  RACE  NEEDS  HOUSEKEEPERS. — The  race  needs 
wives  who  stay  at  home,  being  supported  by  their  husbands, 
and  then  they  can  spend  time  in  the  training  of  their  children. 

NEGRO  WOMEN  IN  EVERY  AVOCATION. — Negro  women  have 
been  engaged  in  every  avocation  in  life ;  dressmaking  taking 
the  lead.  Among  the  most  prominent  are  Mrs.  A.  A.  Casneau, 
of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  Miss  Dora  Miller,  of  New  York, 
Mrs.  Mary  Patterson  and  Mrs.  Fannie  Chrisp  Payne,  of  Rich 
mond,  Virginia.  These  ladies,  and  others,  have  their  own 
parlors  and  are  patronized  by  the  wealthiest  white  people  in 
their  respective  cities,  sometimes  making  costumes  costing  as 
high  as  $200.  Philadelphia,  Boston  and  Washington  can 
boast  of  female  undertakers  who  are  doing  their  work  in  a 
practical  satisfactory  way.  There  are  a  number  of  pharma 
cists  who  are  doing  excellent  work.  Mrs.  L.  N.  C.  Coleman, 
of  Newport  News,  Virginia;  Mrs.  Gray,  of  Washington,  D. 
C.,  are  each  graduate  pharmacists,  run  their  own  drugstores 
and  are  doing  a  thriving  business.  Mrs.  Nellie  Meade  Benson, 
of  Richmond,  Virginia,  is  also  a  graduate  pharmacist,  and  is 
doing  excellent  work.  Miss  Clara  Smyth  conducts  a  drug 
store  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  enjoys  a  large  patronage. 
Women  of  the  race  have  made  excellent  physicians.  Dr. 
Susan  McKinney,  of  New  York ;  Dr.  Archibald  Gilmer,  of 
Kentucky;  Dr.  Matilda  Evans,  of  Columbia,  South  Carolina, 
and  the  late  Dr.  Sarah  G.  Jones,  of  Richmond,  may  be  num 
bered  among  the  most  successful.  Sick  nurses  are  rapidly 
forging  to  the  front,  and  there  are  more  than  three  hundred 


132  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

graduate  nurses  receiving  from  $5  to  $25  a  week  and  giving 
perfectly  satisfactory  service. 

PUBLIC  LECTURERS. — As  public  lecturers,  women  have  also 
occupied  prominent  places.  Mrs.  Mary  Church  Terrell,  of 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  Mrs.  Ida  Wells  Barnett,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois;  Mrs.  Fannie  Jackson  Coppin,  Mrs.  Fannie  Barrier 
Williams,  of  Chicago;  Miss  Mattie  Bowen,  of  Washington,  D. 
C.,  and  Miss  Dayse  Dean  Walker,  of  Indianapolis,  may  be 
classed  as  among  the  most  successful. 

THE  JOURNALISTIC  FIELD. — The  journalistic  field  has  also 
furnished  a  means  of  outlet  for  women's  activities.  Miss  Lil 
lian  Lewis,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Mrs.  Maggie  Mitchell 
Walker,  are  managing  editors  of  reputable  papers,  while  a 
large  number  of  colored  women  are  employed  as  type-setters 
and  reporters,  and  writers  for  journals,  both  white  and  black. 
Perhaps  the  best  work  that  has  ever  been  done  has  been  that 
of  the  St.  Luke  Society,  an  association,  composed  chiefly  of 
women,  and  in  which  women  occupy  the  most  prominent 
positions.  The  leader  of  this  magnificent  organization  is 
Mrs.  Maggie  L.  WTalker,  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  a  woman  of 
great  ability,  rare  tact  and  business  foresight.  She  has  ac 
complished  some  marvelous  work  for  this  organization.  They 
run  a  newspaper,  job  printing  office,  a  bank  and  department 
store,  all  of  which  are  doing  \vell  and  bringing  dividends  to 
the  stockholders.  Mrs.  Walker  has  as  her  chief  assistant  in 
the  newspaper  business  Mrs.  Lillian  H.  Payne,  a  woman  who 
has  shown  special  capabilities  in  this  line. 

WOMEN'S  WORK  IN  BENEVOLENCE. — Without  the  aid  of 
women  the  work  of  the  church  would  undoubtedly  lose  halt 
its  power.  She  assists,  in  paying  the  pastor's  salary,  con 
ducts  entertainments  and  gives  liberally  for  the  support  of  the 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  133 

Master's  vineyard.  She  is  the  principal  factor  in  the  Sunday 
School  Union,  B.  Y.  P.  U.,  Christian  Endeavor  and  other 
forms  of  Christian  work.  If  Paradise  was  lost  by  her  she  is 
certainly  doing  her  full  part  to  regain  it.  She  forms  societies 
for  the  conduct  of  kindergartens  and  day  nurseries,  Young 
Women's  Christian  Associations,  and  her  best  work  for  the 
uplift  of  the  race  is  undobtedly  that  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and 
by  her  influence  and  power  she  has  carried  elections  for 
temperance,  thus  lessening  crime  in  the  community  and  add 
ing  to  the  wealth  of  the  body  politic. 

NEED  OF  SYSTEMATIC  EFFORT. — For  years,  alone  or  in  small 
bands,  the  women  have  labored  for  the  good  of  the  race.  In 
1896,  a  national  association  of  colored  women  w'as  formed 
by  the  union  of  two  large  organizations.  They  lacked  both 
money  and  experience  but  accomplished  great  results.  Many 
kindergartens  were  established  that  gave  good  reports.  Sani 
tariums  and  training  schools  for  nurses  were  established  in 
New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  At  Tuskegee  the  women  undertook 
the  teaching  of  the  poor  on  the  plantations  surrounding  the 
school,  and  a  woman's  club  in  Memphis  bought  a  tract  of 
land  for  an  Old  Folks'  Home.  The  federation  in  Illinois  is 
doing  rescue  work  and  reform  work  for  women  and  girls. 
Federations  in  Tennessee  and  Louisiana  petitioned  against 
the  "Jim-Crow  Car  Law"  and  the  convict  lease  system.  While 
it  was  not  altogether  successful  it  at  least  showed  that  they 
were  thinking.  They  inaugurated  a  .crusade  against  the  one- 
room  cabin,  and  colored  people  all  over  the  land  are  living 
better  lives.  The  Richmond  Charitable  Union  operated  an 
Old  Folks'  home  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  which  is  now  an 
the  hands  of  the  Negro  Baptist  Churches  of  Richmond  and 
vicinity. 


134  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

SOMETHING  COLORED  WOMEN  CAN  Do. — They  can  dignify 
domestic  service.  Here  the  Negro  is  rapidly  losing  ground, 
because  of  the  fact  that  so  many  consider  domestic  service 
lowering.  Those  in  so-called  higher  circles  of  life  frequently 
look  down  upon  those  who  are  called  to  labor  for  their  daily 
bread.  They  can  engage  more  extensively  in  train  nursing, 
learning  scientific  cooking,  domestic  economy,  and  all  call 
ings  that  will  make  home  life  not  only  much  more  pleasant, 
but  at  the  same  time  relieve  the  strain  that  too  frequently 
falls  upon  a  hard-working  husband  because  of  lack  of  sys 
tematic  care  of  the  home.  They  can  do  their  part  to  teach 
wage-earning  colored  women  the  dignity  of  their  calling  and 
the  need  of  making  the  race  thoroughly  proficient  and  relia 
ble.  They  can  improve  the  social  atmosphere;  first,  by  requir 
ing  the  same  standard  of  morality  for  both  men  and  women  ; 
secondly,  by  requiring  a  high  moral  standard  and  living  up 
to  it  themselves ;  thirdly,  by  knowing  who  visits  the  home, 
and  his  character  and  standing;  fourthly,  by  knowing  where 
their  daughters  are  at  night  and  the  kind  of  places  they  fre 
quent  ;  fifthly,  to  respect  woman  for  the  work  she  does,  for 
the  life  she  lives,  for  what  she  is,  and  not  for  what  she  seems 
to  be. 

How  WOMAN  WIELDS  HER  INFLUENCE. — That  woman  has 
an  influence  can  never  be  denied.  That  this  influence  is  con 
stantly  increasing  is  a  self-evident  fact.  She  can  wield  in 
fluence  and  make  it  more  potent  by  her  personal  appearance. 
It  is  a  woman's  duty  to  be  as  beautiful  as  she  can  and  as 
gracious  and  kind  as  God  intended  her  to  be,  by  dressing 
herself  as  neatly  as  she  can  both  at  home  and  abroad,  by  her 
decorum,  by  conducting  herself  becomingly  on  the  street  and 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  135 

in  her  home,  by  her  character ;  for  nothing  is  so  powerful  as 
a  pure,  clean,  character  to  influence  others ;  and  last,  and  best 
of  all,  by  her  love.  Women  were  made  to  bring  the  world  to 
better  things  by  the  touchstone  of  the  God  given  principle  of 
womanly  love.  Let  her  see  to  it  that  she  does  it. 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

NEGRO  DEVELOPMENT  AND  EXPOSITION  COMPANY  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES 

Seeing  the  opportunity  of  greatly  aiding  the  race,  Colonel 
Giles  B.  Jackson  procured  the  organization  and  charter  of 
the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  the  following  address  was  then 
published,  which  explains  itself: 

To  the  Public: 

The  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  chartered  under  the  laws  of  Vir 
ginia,  herein  sets  forth  its  declaration  of  purpose. 

This  company  was  chartered  on  the  I3th  day  of  August, 
1903,  by  the  Corporation  Commission  of  Virginia,  with  an 
authorized  capital  stock  of  $800,000,  divided  into  shares  of 
$10  each,  for  the  purpose  of  uniting  with  the  white  people 
in  celebrating  the  three  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  landing 
of  the  English  speaking  people  at  Jamestown,  Virginia,  on 
the  1 3th  day  of  May,  1607,  and  in  furtherance  of  this  object 
to  place  upon  exhibition  the  achievement  of  the  Negro  race  in 
America,  as  the  result  of  his  having  been  brought  to  this 
country,  and  especially  to  show  what  the  race  has  accumulated 
for  the  betterment  of  its  condition  since  1865. 

This  accomplishment  will  be  shown  at  the  Exposition  to  be 
held  at  Jamestown,  Virginia,  1907. 

It  is  proposed  to  show  at  this  Exposition  what  the  race 
has  made,  produced,  woven,  carved,  engraved,  invented,  writ 
ten  and  published ;  in  fact,  every  thing  it  has  done — that  the 
world  may  form  a  correct  opinion  of  the  Negro  race  of  this 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


137 


W.  I.  JOHNSON,  President  N.  D.  &  E.  Co. 


138  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

country — to  the  end  that  a  proper  solution  of  the  "problem" 
may  be  had  from  a  business,  commercial,  financial  and  indus 
trial  standpoint ;  that  the  unjust  and  unfair  critics  of  tlie 
Negroes  may  be  silenced. 

Further,  to  exhibit  to  the  world  what  the  race  has  done 
and  is  doing  toward  upbuilding  the  great  Commonwealth  of 
Virginia  and  the  material  support  and  advancement  of  the 
United  States. 

We  commend  the  Jamestown  Exposition  Company  for 
promulgating  this  Ter-Centenary,  and  cheerfully  according 
the  Negro  race  an  opportunity  to  exhibit  the  results  of  its 
labor,  and  to  place  itself  properly  upon  record  as  endeavoring 
to  improve  its  condition  and  to  be  a  support  to  the  State  and 
general  government  instead  of  a  burden  and  hindrance. 

We  believe  that  the  business  relations  of  the  two  races, 
especially  in  the  Southern  States,  should  be  mutual ;  that 
they  should  abide  together  in  peace,  and  that  it  is  our  duty  to 
cultivate  friendly  relations  with  the  white  people  for  the 
benefit  of  both  races,  in  the  North  and  the  South. 

Now,  in  order  to  carry  out  the  foregoing  declarations,  we 
shall  appeal  to  our  own  race,  through  our  churches,  societies, 
and  newspapers  throughout  this  country,  for  their  undivided 
support  in  raising  the  money  necessary  to  make  a  creditable 
display  by  the  purchase  of  the  capital  stock  which  is  placed 
within  the  reach  of  all,  shares  being  $10  each  ;  to  assist  in 
collecting  all  articles  within  the  classes  above  mentioned,  and 
such  other  things  of  value  to  be  placed  upon  exhibition. 

When  such  articles  suitable  for  exhibition  shall  have  been 
located,  then  this  office  is  to  be  informed  of  the  proposed 
exhibits,  the  names  of  the  persons  owning  the  same,  that  we 
may  communicate  with  them. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  139 

To  the  White  People  of  the  Country: 

To  our  white  fellow-citizens,  especially  to  those  whom  we 
believe  to  be  friendly  to  us  and  our  cause,  we  appeal  for  a 
liberal  subscription  to  the  fund  proposed  to  be  raised,  for 
the  purpose  herein  set  forth.  We  feel  that  you  will  be  proud 
of  the  exhibits  that  will  be  made  by  the  Negroes  of  this  coun 
try,  particularly  those  of  the  Southern  States,  who  possess 
90  per  cent,  of  the  wealth  of  the  whole  race. 

We  ask  your  support  and  influence  in  this  effort,  because 
the  Negro  cannot  succeed  in  any  great  enterprise  without 
the  aid  of  the  whites,  who  make  and  control  the  money,  who 
make  and  execute  the  laws,  who  build  and  run  the  railroads 
and  navigate  the  waterways. 

We  call  upon  you  for  assistance  because  we  believe  that 
you  will  help  us  in  this  great  patriotic  cause. 

SPECIAL  APPEAL  TO  THE  WHITE  PEOPLE  OF  RICHMOND  AND 
THE  STATE  OF  VIRGINIA 

It  is  our  intention  to  erect  suitable  buildings  upon  the 
Exposition,  Grounds  for  each  State  in  which  the  Colored 
population  is  sufficiently  numerous  to  justify  it ;  that  each 
State  of  the  Union  may  have  a  separate  exhibit.  State  pride 
makes  us  feel  anxious  that  Virginia  shall  have  the  largest 
building  and  shall  make  the  best  showing  of  all,  because  the 
relations  between  the  two  races  here  are  so  well  and  satis 
factorily  defined  that  we  have  prospered  greatly  beyond  the 
expectation  of  those  not  so  situated,  and  because  the  Negroes 
first  landed  upon  the  soil  of  Virginia,  at  Jamestown,  whence 
all  others  descended.  Hence  we  ask  that  you  contribute 
liberally  to  the  fund  we  are  raising  for  this  purpose.  Any  con 
tribution  you  may  make  will  be  thankfully  received  and 


140  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

acknowledged  by  R.  T.  Hill,  Treasurer,  and  Cashier  of  the 
True  Reformers'  Bank,  No.  604  North  Second  Street,  Rich 
mond,  Va.,  or  Samuel  Harris,  Sub-Treasurer,  Williamsburg, 
Virginia. 

The  Metropolitan  Bank,  at  the  corner  of  Tenth  and  Main 
Streets,  city  of  Richmond,  has  been  selected  as  the  depository 
of  the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company.  Any 
subscription  may  be  sent  to  Mr.  Henry  A.  Williams,  cashier 
of  the  said  bank,  who  will  in  like  manner  acknowledge  receipt 
for  the  same. 

We  are  proud  to  say  that  we  have  the  support  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  National  Negro  Business  League  of  the  United 
States,  of  which  Booker  T.  Washington  is  president,  and  of 
many  of  the  best  and  most  influential  white  men  of  this 
country,  among  whom  we  are  pleased  to  mention  ex-Presi 
dent  Grover  Cleveland,  the  Hon.  John  W.  Daniel,  Senator 
of  the  United  States,  from  Virginia ;  ex-Governor  J.  Hoge 
Tyler,  of  Virginia,  and  Governor  C.  B.  Aycock,  of  North 
Carolina.  That  you  may  fully  understand  their  attitude  to 
wards  us,  we  hereto  attach  copies  of  their  letters : 

BALWICK,  EAST  RADFORD,  VA.,  June  22,  1903. 
Giles  B.  Jackson, 

Richmond,  Va. 
Dear  Sirv 

Your  letter  just  received.  It  is  well  known  to  you  that  I 
have  ever  desired  and  aided  the  material  advancement  of  your 
people.  Considering  the  great  difficulties  with  which  they 
have  had  to  contend,  I  think  they  deserve  the  greatest  credit. 
I  trust,  under  the  blessings  of  a  kind  Providence  and  the  con 
tinued  helpful  hand  of  their  true  friends  in  the  South, 
that  the  future  will  show  even  greater  progress  than  the 


GILES  B.  JACKSON,  Director-General  N.  P,  &  E,  Co, 
[141] 


142  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

past.  Those  who  are  leading  them  to  higher  aspirations  in 
material  and  educational  advancement  deserve  great  praise. 
May  they  be  led  in  those  lines  that  will  best  promote  their 
interest  and  that  will  preserve  the  kindly  feelings  of  the 
people  among  whom  Providence  has  cast  their  lot. 

I  think  it  is  a  commendable 'purpose — that  of  showing  the 
advancement  your  people  have  made  since  1865.  Let  them 
bring  together  the  fruits  of  their  labor  and  the  best  samples 
of  their  skill  and  talent.  They  owe  it  to  themselves,  and 
they  owe  it  to  the  South,  to  show  what  progress  they  have 
made. 

I  am  perfectly  willing  to  serve  on  the  Advisory  Board 
you  propose  to  organize,  and  to  do  anything  that  I  can  to 
aid  you  in  your  laudable  work. 

Very  truly  yours, 

J.  HOGE  TYLER. 

STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA, 
Executive  Department, 

Raleigh. 
Giles   B.  Jackson,  Esq., 

812  East  Broad  Street, 

Richmond,  Va. 
Dear  Sir : 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  July  6th.  I  am  much  in 
terested  in  the  progress  which  the  colored  people  have  made 
in  the  United  States,  and  I  am  glad  to  be  of  any  service  to 
them  in  showing  to  the  world  what  they  have  done.  I  believe 
that  pride  in  what  they  have  accomplished  will  be  a  stimulus 
to  them  to  accomplish  more  and  still  better  results,  I  shall 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  143 

be  glad  to  serve  on  the  Advisory  Board  of  your  organization 
with   Governor   Tyler   and   the   other   gentlemen   named. 

Very  truly  yours, 

C.  B.  AYCOCK. 

UNITED  STATES  SENATE, 
Washington,  D.  C., 

September  9,  1903. 
Giles   B.  Jackson,  Esq., 

812  East  Broad  Street, 

Richmond,   Va. 
Dear  Sir: 

I  sympathize  in  every  movement  for  the  betterment  of  the 
colored  people,  and  wish  them  success  in  their  part  in  the 
Jamestown  Exposition.  Any  good  offices  I  could  render  them 
would  be  bestowed  with  the  most  friendly  disposition,  yet  I 
would  prefer  no  official  relation  to  any  company  that  might 
look  for  Federal  aid  directly,  or  indirectly,  as  my  position  in 
the  Senate  makes  me  a  part  of  the  government,  and  I  wish  to 
be  entirely  independent  and  disinterested.  Your  President, 
John  H.  Smythe,  ex-Minister  to  Liberia,  is  well  known  to 
me.  I  regard  him  with,  great  respect  for  his  intelligence  and 
character,  and  hope  and  believe  that  he  and  his  associates  may 
have  the  good  will  and  co-operation  of  the  white  people  of 
our  State.  I  will  be  glad  to  meet  or  to  confer  with  him  or 
yourself,  or  any  representative  men  of  your  organization,  and 
to  do  all  I  can  to  promote  the  success  of  your  worthy  en 
deavors. 

Very  truly  yours, 

JOHN  W.  DANIEL. 


144  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

PRINCETON,  June  24,  1903. 
Giles  B.  Jackson,  Esq. : 

Dear  Sir, — I  am  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  project  of 
making  an  exhibit  of  the  advancement  of  the  colored  people 
of  the  South  a  feature  in  the  "Tor-Centennial"  celebration. 

I  am,  however,  constrained  to  ask  to  be  excused  from  act 
ing  as  a  member  of  "The  Advisory  Committee." 

It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  give  the  matter  any 
attention,  and  I  am  unwilling  to  take  such  a  position  and  do 
no  duty. 

GROVER  CLEVELAND. 

PETITION  TO  CONGRESS 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  United  States  of  America: 

Your  petitioner,  the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition 
Company  of  the  United  States  of  America,  a  company  duly 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Virginia,  with  headquarters 
at  Richmond,  Virginia,  as  will  be  seen  by  its  address  and 
declaration  of  purpose  herewith  submitted,  marked  Exhibit 
''A,"  and  asked  to  be  read  and  considered  as  a  part  of  this 
petition,  as  the  object  and  purpose  of  ypur  petitioner  is  more 
fully  set  forth  in  the  said  address,  and  in  which  are  the  appeals 
to  the  country  for  subscription  to  the  fund  your  petitioner 
is  raising  for  a  successful  exhibition  of  the  achievements  of 
the  Negroes  of  this  country  at  the  Jamestown  Tercentennial, 
to  be  held  at  Jamestown,  Virginia,  in  1907,  in  commemoration 
of  the  landing  of  the  first  English-speaking  people  in  this 
country.  This  Centennial,  in  commemoration  as  aforesaid, 
is  being  conducted  by  the  Jamestown  Exposition  Company, 
of  which  General  Fitzhugh  Lee  is  president.  Through  this 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  145 

company,  your  petitioner  proposes  to  secure  the  privilege  of 
building  upon  the  Exposition  Grounds  suitable  buildings  for 
the  exhibits  of  the  colored  people  of  every  State  in  the  Union 
wherein  a  sufficient  number  of  their  population  will  justify  it. 
Your  petitioner  desires  to  erect  a  building  for  each  State, 
to  be  used  for  the  exhibits  of  the  colored  population  of  their 
respective  States,  wherein  it  is  justifiable,  as  aforesaid. 

Your  petitioner  proposes  to  use  every  effort  in  securing 
for  this  Exposition  every  exhibit  worthy  of  exhibition  made, 
as  mentioned  and  described  in  the  address  and  declaration  of 
purpose  hereinbefore  referred  to  as  a  part  of  this  petition. 

That  to  carry  out  the  purpose  here  indicated,  we  find  that 
it  will  require  the  expenditure  of  a  larger  amount  of  money 
than  at  first  anticipated,  hence  we  feel  that  without  the  assist 
ance  of  the  National  Government  we  cannot  successfully  carry 
out  the  purposes  referred  to  in  the  said  address. 

Your  petitioner  is  advised  and  believes  that  this  Centennial 
is  far  more  important  than  any  that  has  been  held  in  this 
country,  in  that  it  will  be  the  commemorating  of  the  greatest 
event  of  the  nation,  and  since  the  race  of  people  for  whom 
we  speak  constitutes  more  than  ten  per  cent,  of  the  nation, 
who  came  next  after  the  first  settlers  in  this  country,  and 
under  the  peculiar  condition  under  which  we  came,  and  under 
which  we  lived  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  years,  and  under 
which  we  are  now  struggling  to  improve,  we  think  this  the 
greatest  opportunity  to  show  to  the  world  our  capabilities  as 
a  race,  as  a  result  of  what  we  have  done  in  the  improvement 
of  our  condition  within  the  last  thirty-eight  years,  and  to 
exhibit  the  results  on  this  great  occasion,  while  this  com 
memoration  will  be  held  in  Virginia,  upon  the  ground  where 
we  first  landed  in  this  country. 

It  is  not  a  State  affair,  but  a  national  affair,  of  the  greatest 


I46  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

importance  to  both  races.  We,  therefore,  appeal  to  you  as 
the  representatives  of  the  National  Government,  to  make  an 
appropriation  of  one  million  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
($1,200,000)  to  enable  us  to  carry  out  the  purpose  for  which 
this  company  was  formed. 

First,  we  respectfully  ask  the  appropriation  of  two  hun 
dred  thousand  ($200,000),  now  lying  in  the  Treasury  of  the 
United  States,  due  to  the  estates  of  deceased  soldiers,  but 
unclaimed,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  report  of  the  Second 
Atiditor  of  the  Treasury  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
July  27,  1894,  as  set  out  in  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Military  Affairs  of  the  Fifty-seventh  Congress,  first  session, 
which  reported  on  House  bill  3108,  having  for  its  object  the 
provision  for  a  home  for  aged  and  infirm  colored  people, 
which  bill,  however,  failed  of  passage. 

Now,  the  promoters  of  the  said  bill  are  thoroughly  in 
accord  with  your  petitioner  to  secure  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars  of  the  said  fund  for  the  purpose  of  this  Exposition, 
as  by  this  means  the  whole  colored  race  of  over  ten  million 
people  will  enjoy  the  results  of  its  expenditures  and  be  bene- 
fitted.  It  is  certain  that  this  money  will  never  be  called  for 
by  the  heirs  or  next  kin  to  the  deceased  soldiers,  killed  in 
the  war  of  1861-1865,  because  of  their  inability  to  establish 
their  right,  on  account  of  the  condition  of  slavery,  and  the 
manner  in  which  thousands  were  enlisted,  some  enlisting 
under  the  name  of  their  father,  some  under  the  name  of  their 
mother,  and  others  under  the  names  of  their  masters ;  hence 
their  heirs  and  those  who  would  be  entitled  are  unable  to  pro 
ceed  intelligently  in  the  premises,  and  for  other  reasons  set 
out  in  the  report  of  the  said  Committee  on  Military  Affairs 
of  the  Fifty-seventh  Congress,  first  session, 'a  copy  of  which 


NEGRO  DEVELOPMENTS  EXPOSITION  GO 


148  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

is  herewith  filed,  marked  Exhibit  "B,"  and  asked  to  be  read 
and  considered  in  connection  with  this  petition. 

Your  petitioner  does  not  believe  that  this  money  can  be 
used  for  any  better  purpose  than  the  one  herein  mentioned, 
wherein  the  whole  colored  race  will  be  benefitted,  including 
the  heirs  and  the  next  of  kin  of  the  deceased  soldiers. 

We  respectfully  ask  for  an  appropriation  of  one  million 
dollars  ($1,000,000)  out  of  the  United  States  Treasury,  from 
any  money  not  otherwise  appropriated.  We  feel  that  we  are 
entitled  to  ask  for  such  an  appropriation.  First,  because  we 
compose  more  than  10  per  cent,  of  the  nation,  but  seldom  ask 
for  any  appropriation,  if  ever,  except  for  the  reimbursement 
of  twelve  hundred  thousand  dollars,  of  which  they  were 
defrauded  by  the  Freedman's  Bank  swindle,  which  we  have 
never  received,  notwithstanding  a  bill  for  the  purpose  has 
more  than  twice  passed  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  ap 
propriating  the  above  amount  for  the  repayment  to  the  de 
positors  of  the  said  bank,  which  consist  almost  exclusively 
of  colored  people,  but  which  failed  of  passage  in  the  House 
of  Representatives.  The  fact  of  its  passing  the  Senate  proved 
the  justice  and  merit  of  the  claim,  yet  we  feel  that  in  making 
us  the  appropriation  for  this  Exposition  will  in  some  measure 
repay  the  heirs  of  the  deceased  depositors  of  the  said  Freed 
man's  Bank,  who  have  long  ago  lost  their  pass-books  and 
other  receipts,  showing  their  deposits,  and  will  also  in  a 
measure  pay  back  to  a  race  of  people  the  money  out  of  which 
they  were  swindled  by  the  said  Freedman's  Bank  fraud. 

We  ask  that  more  interest  be  taken  in  our  petition  than 
was  taken  in  the  petition  of  the  depositors  of  the  Freedman's 
Bank ;  that  our  bill  may  be  favorably  considered,  since  it 
seems  impossible  to  secure  the  passage  of  the  bill  to  repay 
the  said  depositors ;  that  the  government  will  not  lose  by 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  149 

making  us  this  appropriation,  but  will  gain  tenfold ;  that  our 
fidelity  to  the  master  during  slavery  and  to  the  government 
during  the  war  entitle  us  to  this  appropriation ;  that  the 
amount  we  contribute  in  the  way  of  production  and  consump 
tion  to  the  government  more  than  entitles  us  to  this  appro 
priation.  This  is  the  first  time  that  such  an  appropriation  has 
been  asked  for  such  a  worthy  purpose,  and  we  hope  that  this 
petition  may  find  sufficient  friends  among  your  members  to 
support  and  vote  for  a  bill  making  the  desired  appropriation, 
as  the  money  will  be  wisely  spent  and  for  a  great  cause. 

We  respectfully  submit  that  should  you  have  any  fear  of 
its  not  being  judiciously  spent,  that  we  will  relieve  your  doubt 
by  stating  that  the  president  of  the  Negro  Development  and 
Exposition  Company  represented  the  United  States  Govern 
ment  as  Minister  to  Liberia  under  two  Presidents,  and  is 
now  at  the  head  of  a  large  institution  in  Virginia,  for  which 
the  State  makes  an  annual  appropriation.  The  treasurer  is 
the  cashier  of  the  first  and  largest  colored  bank  in  the  coun 
try,  handling  millions  of  dollars  a  year.  We  have  an  Ad 
visory  Board  consisting  of  some  of  the  best  and  most  influen 
tial  white  citizens  of  the  South,  among  them  are  His  Excel 
lency,  Governor  C.  B.  Aycock,  of  North  Carolina;  J.  Hoge 
Tyler,  ex-Governor  of  Virginia;  Emanuel  Raab,  a  millionaire 
and  capitalist ;  Charles  Milhiser,  a  capitalist  of  Richmond, 
Virginia,  and  Simon  Seward,  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Petersburg,  Virginia.  All  of  these  gentlemen  are 
experienced  business  men,  and  to  whom  we  shall  look  for 
counsel  and  advice.  Should  you  take  a  favorable  view  of 
this  petition,  we  hope  that  a  bill  may  be  framed  and  an  appro 
priation  be  made  before  the  adjournment  of  this  session  of 


150  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Congress,  as  the  work  before  us  is  great,  and  requires  a  great 
deal  of  time  and  money. 

Your  petitioner  will  ever  pray. 

The   Negro   Development  and  Exposition   Company  of  the 
United  States. 

By  GILES  B.  JACKSON, 

Director  General, 
528   East   Broad   Street,   Richmond,   Va. 

After  preparing  the  foregoing  address  and  declaration  of 
purpose  of  the  said  company,  we  felt  that,  being  a  part  of  this 
government,  we  were  entitled  to  petition  it  for  assistance  in 
our  efforts  herein  set  forth,  and  especially,  since  the  govern 
ment  has  appropriated  millions  of  dollars  for  expositions  of 
other  races,  and  as  we  have  never  called  upon  the  govern 
ment  for  an  appropriation  for  such  a  worthy  cause  wherein 
the  whole  race  will  be  greatly  benefitted.  Therefore,  in  our 
behalf,  the  Honorable  John  Lamb,  of  the  Third  Congressional 
District  of  Virginia,  introduced  the  following  bill  in  the 
Fifty-eighth  Congress : 

"A  bill  authorizing  the  appropriation  of  one  million,  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  ($1,200,000)  to  the  Negro  Develop 
ment  and  Exposition  Company  of  the  United  States  of 
America. 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representa 
tives  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled : 

"That  the  sum  of  two  hundred  thousand  ($200,000)  dollars, 
out  of  all  moneys,  arrears  of  pay  and  bounty  which  are  due 
the  estates  of  deceased  colored  soldiers  who  served  in  the 
late  War  between  the  States,  and  which  were  in  the  hands 
of  the  Commissioner  of  the  Freedman's  Bureau,  and  have 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  151 

been  repaid  in  the  Treasury,  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of 
any  such  money  in  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  to  the 
Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  a  corporation  duly  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  Virginia,  and  that  the  sum  of  one  million  dollars  ($i,- 
000,000)  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of  any  moneys  in  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States  not  otherwise  appropriated  to 
the  said  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company  of 
the  United  States  of  America  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
creditable  exhibit  on  behalf  of  the  colored  people  of  this 
country  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  to  be  held  at  James 
town,  Virginia,  in  1907,  in  commemoration  of  the  landing  of 
the  first  English-speaking  people  of  this  country.  Provided, 
that  no  money  shall  be  paid  to  the  said  Negro  Development 
and  Exposition  Company  of  the  United  States  of  America 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act  until  the  Attorney-General  of 
the  United  States  shall  have  reported  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  after  proper  investigation,  that  such  Association  is 
legally  incorporated  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  purposes 
specified  in  this  act,  nor  until  the  company  shall  have  given 
good  and  sufficient  bond,  to  be  approved  by  the  Judge  of 
the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 
Virginia,  conditioned  upon  the  faithful  discharge  of  their 
duties  in  the  proper  expenditure  of  the  above  mentioned  fund. 
"And  provided  further,  that  no  claim  or  obligation  upon 
the  United  States  for  any  appropriation  of  money  for  an 
exposition's  support  shall  ever  be  asserted  against  the  United 
States,  nor  will  the  United  States  recognize  any  obligation 
growing  out  of  this  act,  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is 
authorized  and  directed  to  pay  the  money  hereby  appropriated 
to  the  said  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company 


152  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

of  the  United  States  of  America  in  the  manner  provided  for 
and  upon  the  fulfillment  of  the  terms  of  this  act." 

After  a  lengthy  correspondence  with  Hon.  John  Lamb, 
Representative  of  the  Richmond  District  in  Congress,  Colonel 
Jackson  was  finally  able  to  appear  before  Congress,  and  made 
a  telling  speech,  which  resulted  in  the  appropriation  of  $100,- 
ooo  to  aid  the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  making  a  special  Negro 
exhibit  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition.  Hon.  John  Lamb  was 
especially  active  and  interested  in  securing  the  appropriation 
and  is  deserving  of  the  lasting  gratitude  of  the  colored  people 
of  this  country. 

To  the  Committee  on  Industrial  Arts  and  Expositions: 

We  esteem  it  a  high  privilege  to  be  permitted  to  appear 
before  you  on  behalf  of  the  Negro  Development  and  Exposi 
tion  Company  of  the  United  States  of  America,  which  repre 
sents  more  than  ten  million  of  Negroes  of  this  country,  whose 
object  and  purpose  are  more  clearly  set  forth  in  the  address 
of  the  said  company. 

We  appear  before  you  as  representatives  of  more  than 
ten  million  people,  to  ask  the  influence  of  your  good  office  to 
assist  us  in  making  a  creditable  exhibit  at  the  Jamestown  Ter- 
Centennial  of  what  the  Negro  has  accomplished  within  the 
last  forty  years. 

Emancipated,  as  we  were,  without  a  dollar,  without  food 
or  clothes,  we  were  left  among  our  former  masters  to  make 
such  terms  as  we  could  for  our  then  future  existence.  Now, 
after  forty  years,  the  records  show  that  the  terms  we  made 
were  agreeable  and  satisfactory  in  a  majority  of  cases.  LTpon 
examination  of  various  authorities,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 


OF   THE  XEGRO  RACE  153 

Negro  has  largely  exceeded  any  other  race  similarly  situated ; 
he  has  prospered  largely  beyond  his  expectations. 

As  members  of  the  National  Negro  Business  League  of  the 
United  States,  of  which  Professor  Booker  T.  AYashington  is 
president,  which  convenes  annually  in  the  month  of  August, 
we  have  succeeded  in  gathering  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  informa 
tion  as  to  what  the  Negro  of  this  country  has  done  in  the 
material  development  of  his  race,  the  amount  of  taxes  he 
pays,  the  amount  of  property,  both  real  and  personal,  he  has 
accumulated  since  his  emancipation.  To  ascertain  correctly 
what  the  Negro  has  done,  it  has  become  necessary  for  our 
informants,  in  sending  in  the  figures  and  authorities  from 
which  they  were  derived,  to  send  us  in  a  large  degree  authen 
ticated  statements  from  various  authorities  throughout  this 
country,  showing  what  the  Negro  has  accumulated  and  accom 
plished  within  the  last  forty  years.  As  the  result  of  this,  it 
will  be  shown  that  the  Negro  race  has  accumulated  about 
forty  million  (40,000,000)  dollars'  worth  of  church  property, 
and  built  nineteen  thousand,  eight  hundred  (19,800)  churches, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  six  million  (6,000,000).  Negro 
children  in  the  common  schools,  one  million,  five  hundred 
thousand  (1,500,000);  Negro  students  in  the  higher  institu 
tions,  forty  thousand  (40,000) ;  Negro  teachers,  thirty  thou 
sand  (30,000) ;  Negro  students  learning  trades,  twenty-five 
thousand  (25,000) ;  Negro  students  pursuing  classical  courses, 
one  thousand,  two  hundred  (1,200);  Negro  students  pursuing 
scientific  courses,  one  thousand,  two  hundred  and  fifty 
(1,250);  Negro  students  pursuing  business  courses,  one  thou 
sand,  one  hundred  and  fifty  (1,150) ;  Negro  graduates,  twenty- 
six  thousand  (26,000).  There  are  two  hundred  and  fifty  thou 
sand  (250,000)  volumes  in  the  Negro  libraries,  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  (156)  institutions  for  the  higher  education  of 


154  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Negroes,  eight  hundred  (800)  Negro  physicians,  three  hun 
dred  and  fifty  (350)  books  written  by  Negroes,  five  hundred 
and  twenty-one  (521)  Negro  lawyers,  six  (6)  magazines  edited 
by  Negroes,  and  five  hundred  and  twenty-two  (522)  news 
papers  under  their  management.  The  value  of  their  libraries 
is  five  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  (550,000)  dollars.  Their 
farms  are  worth  sixty-six  million  (66,000,000)  dollars.  This 
does  not  include  their  homes,  valued  at  three  hundred  and 
thirty-five  million  (335,000,000)  dollars,  nor  their  personal 
property,  worth  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  million  (172,- 
000,000)  dollars. 

NOTES  OF  NEGRO  PROGRESS 

There  are  forty-six  (46)  banks  in  America  owned  and  man 
aged  entirely  by  colored  men,  among  which  are  the  Penny  Sav 
ings  Bank  of  the  St.  Lukes,  the  True  Reformers  Bank,  the 
Nickel  Savings  Bank,  and  the  Mechanics  Bank,  all  of  Rich 
mond,  Virginia ;  the  Penny  Savings  Bank  of  Birmingham, 
Alabama,  and  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  Bank,  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  Another  bank  has  been  started  in  Philadelphia,  one 
in  Cincinnati  and  one  in  the  Tuskegee  Normal  and  Industrial 
School. 

The  colored  people  of  the  United  States  own  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  thousand  (137,000)  farms  and  homes,  valued 
at  seven  hundred  and  fifty  million  (750,000,000)  dollars,  and 
personal  property  valued  at  one  hundred  and  seventy  million 
(170,000,000)  dollars ;  total  amount  of  farms,  homes  and  per 
sonal  property,  nine  hundred  and  twenty  million  (920,000,000) 
dollars.  The  race  owns  six  hundred  thousand  (600,000)  acres 
of  land  in  the  South  alone. 

The  Negro  race  has  twelve  (12)  colleges,  ten  (10)  academies, 
sixty  (60)  high  schools,  five  (5)  law  schools,  and  twenty-five 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  155 

(25)  theological  seminaries.  It  has  accumulated  more  than 
twelve  million  (12,000,000)  dollars'  worth  of  school  property 
and  raised  nearly  eleven  million  (11,000,000)  dollars  for 
education. 

The  Negro  has  reduced  his  illiteracy  55.5  per  cent,  in  forty 
years,  as  will  be  shown  by  official  records. 

In  Virginia  alone  he  is  acquiring  real  estate,  as  will  be  seen 
from  the  report  of  the  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts  of  that 
State,  at  the  rate  of  nearly  fifty  thousand  (50,000)  acres  per 
annum,  and  pays  taxes  on  seventeen  million,  four  hundred  and 
forty-two  thousand,  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  (17,442, 
227)  dollars  on  real  and  personal  property. 

He  has  accumulated  in  forty  years  in  Virginia  one-thirty- 
sixth  of  all  of  the  land  in  the  said  State,  and  one-sixth  of  all 
the  land  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  He  owns  one-tenth  of  all 
the  land  in  twenty-five  (25)  counties  out  of  the  one  hundred 
(100)  counties :  he  owns  one-seventh  of  Middlesex  county, 
one-sixth  of  Hanover  county,  one-third  of  Charles  City 
county.  The  real  estate  holdings  would  appear  much  larger 
if  there  was  added  the  farms  for  which  he  has  contracted  and 
upon  which  he  is  making  payments. 

THE  NEGRO  AS  A  PRODUCER  IN  VIRGINIA 

The  amount  of  grain  produced  for  the  year  1899  was  nine 
teen  million,  three  hundred  and  twenty  thousand,  seven  hun 
dred  and  seventy-three  (19,320,773)  bushels,  as  follows: 

Corn,   bushels    13,524,742 

Wheat,  bushels    4.368,010 

Oats,  bushels 1,698,021 


Total    I9'590.773 


156  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Of  this  production,  fourteen  million,  four  hundred  and 
ninety  thousand,  five  hundred  and  seventy-nine  (14,490,579) 
bushels  were  produced  by  the  Negro.  We  have  not  at  our 
command  at  this  writing  sufficient  data  to  show  the  amount  of 
tobacco  and  iron  produced  by  him ;  suffice  it  to  say,  however, 
from  what  information  we  have  obtained  on  this  subject,  his 
product  of  these  two  articles  largely  exceeds  that  of  wheat, 
corn  and  oats. 

We,  therefore,  feel  that  we  are  a  part  of  this  government, 
yet  we  have  no  representative  in  the  legislative  body,  whose 
duty  it  would  be  to  call  upon  you  and  present  to  you  our 
cause,  hence  we  come  as  a  committee,  asking  a  word  of  com 
mendation  from  this  honorable  committee. 

We  will  be  very  thankful  for  a  favorable  consideration  of 
our  appeal. 

GILES  B.  JACKSON, 

Director-General. 
528  East  Broad  Street,  Richmond,  Va. 

Viewing  the  situation  as  it  is,  we  felt  that  it  would  not  be 
out  of  place  to  solicit  an  appropriation  from  the  several  States 
in  which  the  colored  population  would  justify  it.  Accordingly, 
the  Director-General  sent  the  following  letter  to  a  number  of 
the  Governors  of  the  several  States: 

To  His  Excellency: 

Dear  Sir, — In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  white  people  of 
this  country  have  decided  to  celebrate  the  three  hundredth  an 
niversary  of  the  landing  of  the  first  English-speaking  people 
in  this  country,  at  Jamestown,  Virginia,  1907,  we  desire  to 
petition  you  in  behalf  of  the  Negroes  of  this  country. 

In  order  to  do  this  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  granted  a 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  157 

charter  to  the  Jamestown  Exposition  Company,  which  com 
pany  now  has  charge  of  the  Exposition,  which  will  commence 
in  the  month  of  May,  1907,  at  Jamestown,  Virginia. 

Now,  thirteen  years  after  the  landing  of  the  white  people 
at  Jamestown  came  the  Xegro,  while  not  of  his  own  choice 
or  liking,  but  under  peculiar  circumstances,  yet  he  is  here, 
and  since  his  coming  has  taken  part  in  many  events  which 
have  added  to  the  glory  of  this  country,  as  history  will  bear 
witness. 

We,  therefore,  feel  that  this  is  the  most  fitting  time  anc! 
best  opportunity  for  the  Negro  to  -unite  with  the  white  people 
in  this  celebration,  and  to  place  upon  exhibition  the  result 
of  his  achievements  since  his  landing  in  this  country,  at  James 
town,  especially  since  his  emancipation. 

For  this  purpose,  we  have  secured  a  charter  of  incorpora 
tion  under  the  laws  of  Virginia  for  the  Negro  Development 
and  Exposition  Company  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
which  company  has  full  charge  of  the  part  the  Negro  pro 
poses  to  take  in  this,  the  greatest  and  most  important  Exposi 
tion  ever  held  in  this  country. 

Enclosed  herewith,  please  find  a  copy  of  the  Address  and 
Declaration  of  Purpose  of  the  said  Company,  for  which  we 
ask  your  favorable  consideration.  After  reading  the  same, 
should  you  agree  with  us  in  our  efforts  we  would  most  re 
spectfully  ask  that  you  recommend  to  your  Legislature  an 
appropriation  to  our  company  to  enable  us  to  make  a  credita 
ble  exhibit  of  what  the  Negro  has  accomplished  in  your  State, 
as  I  am  sure  whatever  may  be  done  in  their  behalf  will  be 
highly  appreciated  by  them. 

It  will  necessarily  take  a  large  sum  of  money  to  carry 
out  the  purpose  of  this  company,  which  is  partly  set  forth 
in  the  Address  and  Declaration. 


I58  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

We  have  written  a  similar  letter  to  a  number  of  the  Gov 
ernors  of  the  various  States. 

Now,  should  you  have  any  doubt  as  to  this  company's 
ability  to  handle  such  funds,  we  would  respectfully  submit 
that  the  President,  Hon.  John  H.  Smith,  is  an  ex-minister  to 
Liberia,  having  served  under  two  administrations,  and  is  now 
the  president  and  manager  of  the  Negro  Manual  Training 
School,  a  State  institution.  Mr.  R.  T.  Hill,  the  Treasurer,  is 
cashier  of  the  Reformers'  Bank  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  which 
is  owned  and  run  entirely  by  colored  men,  and  since  its  organ 
ization  has  handled  over  twelve  million  (12,000,000)  dollars, 
and  is  now  handling  between  five  and  six  hundred  thousand 
dollars  annually.  Mr.  Samuel  Harris,  the  Sub-Treasurer,  of 
Williamsburg,  Va.,  has  accumulated  and  runs  a  business  of 
over  two  hundred  thousand  (200,000)  dollars. 

Should  you  have  further  doubt  as  to  the  ability,  we  should 
respectfully  submit  that  we  have  on  our  Advisory  Board,  Hon. 
J.  Hoge  Tyler,  ex-Governor  of  Virginia,  a  man  of  great 
wealth ;  Mr.  Fritz  Sitterding,  one  of  the  richest  men  in  Vir 
ginia  ;  Mr.  Simon  Seward,  a  millionaire  of  Petersburg,  Vir 
ginia,  and  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  city ; 
Mr.  F.  Raab,  several  times  a"  millionaire,  of  Richmond,  Vir 
ginia;  Mr.  Charles  Milhiser,^also  a  wealthy  man  of  Richmond, 
Virginia;  Governor  C.  B.  Aycock,  of  North  Carolina,  and 
other  white  gentlemen  of  wealth  and  prominence. 

We  will  be  indeed  thankful  for  any  assistance  you  may  give 
us  in  raising  the  money  necessary  to  carry  out  the  objects  and 
purposes  set  forth. 

Hoping  a  favorable  reply, 

Very  respectfully, 
GILES  B.  JACKSON, 
Director-General. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  159 

While  replies  were  received  from  a  large  number  of  the 
Governors  of  the  various  States,  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
was  the  only  one  to  make  a  direct  appropriation.  The  appro 
priation  of  $5,000  caused  this  State  to  make  a  most  creditable 
exhibit  at  the  Exposition. 

In  answer  to  the  foregoing  declaration  and  appeal,  subscrip 
tion  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  said  company  was  made  to  the 
amount  of  nearly  $50,000.  On  the  3ist  day  of  June,  1906, 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  in  reply  to  the  petition 
printed  above,  passed  an  act  appropriating  $100,000  in  aid  of 
the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company.  The  ex 
penditure  of  the  said  amount  was  entrusted  to  an  Executive 
Committee,  consisting  of  Giles  B.  Jackson,  Thos.  J.  Galloway 
and  Andrew  F.  Hilyer.  Airs.  Namah  Curtis,  the  wife  of  Dr. 
A.  M.  Curtis,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  was  appointed  Fiscal 
Agent  to  certify  vouchers  made  upon  the  Treasury  Depart 
ment  of  the  United  States. 


!6o  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


CHAPTER   XIX 

REPORT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE,  NEGRO  EXHIBIT, 
JAMESTOWN  EXPOSITION,  TO  APRIL  30,  1908. 

An  extract  of  the  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  as 
made  to  the  Ter-Centennial  Commission  and  the  Negro 
Development  and  Exposition  Company  follows : 

The  Negro  Department  of  the  Jamestown  Exposition 
proved  to  be  one  of  its  most  successful  features.  It  was  not 
in  the  original  scheme  of  the  Exposition  to  have  a  Negro 
department.  As  an  afterthought  the  feature  took  the  form  of 
an  annex  on  a  reservation  of  six  acres.  This  isolation  proved 
both  a  benefit  and  a  disadvantage;  a  disadvantage  in  that 
visitors  were  compelled  to  go  to  this  particular  spot  to  see  the 
work  of  the  colored  people,  whose  handicraft  would  have 
compared  favorably  with  that  of  the  white  exhibitors  if  dis 
played  alongside,  but  the  benefits  more  than  offset  this,  among 
which  were  the  freedom  of  the  managers  of  the  Negro  exhibit 
to  make  a  display  in  all  lines  of  skill,  which  were  both  varied 
and  comprehensive. 

The  inception  of  the  scheme  for  a  separate  Negro  exhibit 
originated  with  Giles  B.  Jackson,  who  was  instrumental  in 
organizing  and  securing  a  charter  for  the  Negro  Development 
and  Exposition  Company  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
The  charter  for  this  company  was  granted  under  the  laws  of 
Virginia,  August  13,  1903.  Its  avowed  object  was  to  manage 
a  separate  department  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  and  upon 
application,  the  Jamestown  Exposition  Company  set  aside  six 
acres  of  land  at  the  western  entrance  for  this  purpose.  It 
was  agreed  between  the  two  companies  that  the  Exposition 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  161 

Company  should  receive  all  gate  receipts,  and  that  the  Negro 
Development  Company  should  have  all  commissions,  per 
centages  and  profits  it  m^ght  provide  for  on  the  six  acre  reser 
vation.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  of  good  attendance 
and  good  management  this  scheme  should  have  proven  profit 
able  to  all  parties.  That  it  proved  anything  but  a  financial 
success  is  due  to  the  fact  that  attendance  fell  far  short  of  all 
reasonable  expectations. 

We  have  already  observed  that  the  Negro  Development 
and  Exposition  Company  was  chartered  under  the  laws  of 
Virginia.  Its  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  $800,000,  with  shares 
at  the  par  value  of  $10  each.  The  leading  men  in  the  organi 
zation  were  W.  Isaac  Johnson,  President ;  Rev.  A.  Binga,  Jr., 
D.  D.,  Vice-President ;  Giles  B.  Jackson,  Director-General; 
R.  T.  Hill,  Treasurer,  and  Robert  Kelser,  Secretary,  well 
known  citizens  of  Virginia,  and  most  of  them  of  Richmond. 
The  stock  was  offered  to  the  public  and  its  sale  solicited  by 
agents  commissioned  in  the  various  States.  These  agents  also 
listed  exhibits.  "The  Negro  Criterion,"  edited  by  the  Direc 
tor  General,  a  weekly  newspaper,  was  issued  to  a  large  mail 
ing  list.  In  this  way  a  very  considerable  interest  was  created 
throughout  the  country.  After  nearly  two  years  of  exploita 
tion,  the  company  asked  Congress  for  an  appropriation  of 
$200,000,  to  aid  in  making  this  exhibit  at  Jamestown.  There 
was  no  little  opposition  to  such  an  appropriation,  particularly 
on  the  part  of  a  number  of  leading  colored  men.  After  thor 
oughly  investigating  the  matter,  however,  and  through  the 
persistent  efforts  of  Giles  B.  Jackson,  who  appeared  before 
Congress  single-handed,  Congress  concluded  that  the  money 
would  aid  a  worthy  cause,  the  President  having  taken  a  per 
sonal  interest  in  the  matter  and  appropriated  $100,000  in  the 
following  terms : 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  163 

"That  in  aid  of  the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition 
Company  of  the  United  States  of  America  to  enable  it  to  make 
an  exhibit  of  the  progress  of  the  Negro  race  in  this  country  at 
the  said  Exposition,  the  sum  of  $100,000  is  hereby  appro 
priated  out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appro 
priated.  This  sum  shall  be  expended  by  the  Jamestown  Ter- 
Centennial  Commission.  Under  rules  and  regulations  pre 
scribed  by  it  and  for  such  objects  as  shall  be  approved  by  both 
the  said  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company  of  the 
United  States  of  America  and  the  said  commission ;  provided, 
however,  that  a  reasonable  proportion  of  the  said  appropria 
tion  shall  be  expended  for  a  building  within  which  to  make 
such  exhibit. 

"That  except  to  the  extent  and  in  the  manner  by  this  act 
provided  and  authorized,  the  United  States  Government  shall 
not  be  liable  on  any  account  whatever,  in  connection  with  the 
said  exposition." 

SUNDRY  CIVIL  ACT,  APPROVED  JUNE  30,  1906. 

The  success  of  the  Negro  exhibit  having  been  assured  by 
this  appropriation,  the  campaign  of  the  Negro  Development 
and  Exposition  Company  was  continued  and  numerous  field 
agents  were  appointed  in  a  great  many  of  the  States.  Plans 
for  a  Negro  building  were  arranged  for  and  approved,  but 
otherwise,  the  progress  towards  the  making  of  the  exhibit 
was  slow. 

The  managers  of  the  Negro  department  were  anxious  that 
the  best  showing  possible  should  be  made,  but  there  were* 
some  of  them  who  had  serious  doubt  that  Negro  contractors 
could  be  found  who  could  and  would  erect  expeditiously  and 
skilfully  a  building  costing  forty  thousand  dollars.  The  more 
aggressive  officers  of  this  company,  however,  insisted  that 


1 64  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

to  have  a  Negro  exhibit  in  a  building  erected  by  white 
mechanics,  would  be  to  discount  our  own  enterprise,  and  to 
say  to  the  visiting  world,  "behold  our  incapacity  to  build  the 
very  roof  over  our  heads."  It  was  determined  that  the  build 
ing  should  be  erected  by  Negro  artisans,  or  the  enterprise  be" 
abandoned,  that  any  other  position  would  be  untenable  and 
stultifying.  Within  a  few  minutes  after  the  conference  the 
chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  the  architect  who 
had  prepared  the  plans  were  on  the  train  en  route  to  find  the 
contractors,  and  before  sun  up,  that  very  night,  had  induced 
two  Negro  mechanics  to  lake  the  contract  and  to  meet  the 
conditions  of  a  heavy  bond  necessary  in  the  case. 

The  architect  referred  to  was  W.  Sidney  Pittman,  now  the 
son-in-law  of  Booker  T.  Washington,  whose  office  was  in  the 
upper  story  of  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Louisiana  avenue 
and  Sixth  Street,  N.  W.,  in  the  city  of  Washington.  He  is  a 
native  of  Montgomery,  Alabama,  where  he  was  born  in  1875. 
His  mother,  an  ex-slave,  and  a  widow  from  the  boy's  earlv 
infancy,  supported  herself  and  him  and  kept  him  in  the  public 
schools  of  Montgomery,  until  he  had  completed  the  grammar 
grades,  when  she  aided  him  to  enter  the  Tuskegee  Institute, 
where  he  matriculated  at  seventeen  years  of  age  as  a  work 
student,  that  is,  he  worked  during  the  day  and  attended  school 
at  night.  He  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  admitted  into  the 
department  of  mechanical  ::nd  architectural  drawing  and  soon 
decided  to  make  that  work  his  life  calling.  After  five  years  at 
Tuskegee,  he  entered  Drexel  Institute  Philadelphia,  grad 
uating  therefrom  in  1900.  He  then  spent  five  years  at 
Tuskegee  as  a  teacher,  resigning  in  1905,  to  enter  business 
for  himself.  One  year  later  he  had  the  opportunity  to  enter  the 
competition  for  appointment  as  architect  of  the  Negro  build- 


1 66  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

architects  were  told  that  the  building  must  contain  60,000 
square  feet  of  Boor  space,  must  be  two  stories  high,  with  a 
post  free  auditorium,  and  must  be  ornamental  and  well  lighted 
and  must  be  such  as  to  be  erected  for  $30,000.  Of  the  designs 
submitted,  that  of  Mr.  Pittman  was  accepted  in  October,  1906, 
as  being  superior  to  the  others. 

When  it  came  to  awarding  the  contract  for  erecting  the 
building  it  was  found  that  while  the  building  according  to 
the  accepted  design  could  have  been  erected  under  normal 
building  conditions  for  the  sum  specified,  no  contractors 
would  undertake  it  on  the  Expositions  Grounds  with  all  the 
difficulties  of  transportation  and  double  cost  of  labor  and 
material  for  less  than  twice  the  estimated  cost.  Twice  in 
succession  the  plans  had  been  reduced  but  even  then  no 
bidders  had  been  secured.  It  was  at  this  juncture  that  the 
conference  of  the  managers  above  referred  to  was  held  when 
it  was  seriously  debated  whether  we  should  abandon  Negro 
contractors  and  award  the  contract  to  white  men.  When  it 
was  definitely  decided  to  have  Negro  artisans  to  erect  the 
building  for  a  Negro  exhibit,  it  was  also  decided  to  increase 
the  allottment  to  forty  thousand  dollars,  if  necessary,  in  order 
to  secure  competent  and  reliable  contractors.  The  building 
was  to  be  erected  under  the  supervision  and  according  to  the 
regulations  of  the  Supervising  Architect  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  one  of  those  regulations  was  that  the  con 
tractor  give  a  bond  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  one  half  the 
allottment  for  the  building.  Any  approved  bonding  company 
would  be  accepted  as  security.  This  was  a  hard  condition 
for  colored  men,  especially  since  the  bonding  company  re 
quired  a  certified  check  for  $10,000,  to  be  held  until  the  build 
ing  was  completed.  The  conditions  were  all  met,  however, 
by  the  firm  of  Boiling  &  Everett,  of  Lynchburg,  Virginia, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  167 

and  these  men   signed  the  contract,   February   5,   1907,   the 
American  Bonding  Company  having  become  their  security. 

THE  CONTRACTORS 

S.  H.  Boiling,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  was  fifty 
years  of  age,  the  son  of  a  slave  brick  mason,  of  whom  the 
son  learned  the  same  trade.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  had 
learned  to  read  blue  print  plans,  and  had  sufficient  educa 
tion  to  understand  ordinary  specifications.  When  twenty-one 
years  old  he  took  a  contract  for  a  twelve-room  brick-house, 
and  completed  it  with  a  good  profit.  He  has  erected  buildings 
in  Roanoke,  Farmville,  Lynchburg  and  elsewhere  in  Virginia, 
also  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

A.  J.  Everett,  the  junior  member,  is  a  native  of  Lynchburg, 
Virginia,  and  a  successful  carpenter.  He  has  erected  many 
beautiful  cottages,  and  built  for  himself  a  large  and  com 
modious  home  with  all  modern  improvements.  He  has  trained 
his  sons  in  his  own  trade  and  educated  them  in  a  way  to  be  of 
great  assistance  in  taking  and  executing  contracts.  The  firm 
of  Boiling  &  Everett  is  not  a  permanent  partnership,  but  was 
formed  in  1903,  to  erect  a  one  hundred  thousand  dollar  build 
ing  in  the  city  of  Washington  for  the  Grand  Fountain,  United 
Order  of  True  Reformers,  and  reformed  in  1907  to  construct 
the  Negro  building  at  Jamestown. 

The  plans  and  specifications  of  the  Negro  building  as  finally 
adopted,  call  for  a  structure  213  feet  long,  129  feet  wide,  and 
two  stories  high.  There  were  to  be  eighty-six  windows,  of 
which  thirty-two  were  eight  feet  wide  by  sixteen  feet  high, 
each  with  ninety-four  panes  of  glass.  The  others  were  but 
little  smaller.  128  pillars  were  required  to  support  the  second 
floor,  in  addition  to  the  support  of  the  walls,  which  were  to  be 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  169 

finished  off  on  the  exterior  with  pebble  dash,  plaster  and  staff. 
The  most  difficult  feature  was  the  roof,  which  was  to  be 
erected  on  trusses,  covering  a  clear  span  of  ninety-three  feet. 
The  building  was  lighted  by  electricity,  approximately  4,000 
incandescent  lamps  having  been  used  for  that  purpose.  The 
wiring  was  a  large  undertaking,  requiring  careful  work.  The 
contract  was  let  under  open  bids  for  $1,900  to  Arthur  N.  John 
son,  a  young  Negro  electrical  contractor  of  Wytheville,  Vir 
ginia.  Mr.  Johnson  performed  this  highly  technical  work 
with  perfect  satisfaction  to  the  electrical  inspectors  of  the 
Exposition  and  to  the  managers  of  the  Negro  exhibit. 

The  contractors  could  have  had  no  more  embarrassing  cir 
cumstances  under  which  to  erect  the  building.  It  was  but 
eighty  days  before  the  scheduled  opening  of  the  Exposition 
when  they  made  their  contract  and  hence  they  felt  the  pres 
sure  of  haste  at  all  times  in  carrying  on  their  work.  But  not 
withstanding  the  necessity  for  haste  everything  tended  to 
prevent  rapid  progress.  The  Exposition  Grounds  were  nine 
miles  from  Norfolk,  Virginia,  the  nearest  town  or  shipping 
point.  The  sixteen  transportation  lines  centering  in  Norfolk, 
transferred  all  freight  to  a  single  one  track  railroad  to  the 
Exposition,  and  it  was  regarded  fortunate  if  freight  delivered 
in  Norfolk  reached  the  Exposition  Grounds  within  ten  days 
thereafter.  All  the  mechanics  and  laborers  had  to  come  by 
street  car  or  boat  and  these  lines  were  proverbial  in  break 
downs,  landing  passengers  at  10  o'clock  who  should  have  been 
at  work  at  7 130.  As  many  as  a  hundred  mechanics  and 
laborers  were  employed  on  the  Negro  building,  and  the  super 
vision  of  these  was,  under  the  circumstances,  very  difficult, 
requiring  efficient  executive  management. 

The   Negro  building  was  handsomely  decorated  through- 


170  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

out  the  interior.  The  walls,  ceiling  and  posts  were  covered 
with  burlap.  Strips  of  red,  white  and  yellow  cheese  cloth, 
sewed  together,  were  freely  used,  as  were  also  the  national 
colors,  all  together  producing  a  very  pleasing  effect. 

The  Executive  Committee  took  the  view  that  this  appro 
priation  by  Congress  was  an  "aid  fund,"  and  that  the  strictest 
economy  should  be  exercised  in  its  expenditure.  We  en 
deavored  to  get  the  most  possible  out  of  this  opportunity  to 
show  the  world  what  the  colored  people  have  accomplished 
in  about  forty  years  of  freedom.  We  pursued  most  rigidly  the 
policy  of  economy.  We  believe  that  it  would  have  been  diffi 
cult  under  the  conditions  which  surrounded  us  in  our  work 
to  have  secured,  on  the  whole,  greater  results  for  the  sum 
expended.  No  large  salaries  were  paid,  and  every  item  of 
expense  was  most  carefully  considered.  Vouchers  and  re 
ceipts  were  submitted  for  every  item  of  expenditure  in  accord 
ance  with  the  regulations  of  the  Commission  and  of  the 
Treasury  Department,  and  the  committee  feels  great  satisfac 
tion  in  the  fact  that  our  recommendations  have  been  approved 
in  almost  every  case. 

FIELD  AGENTS 

The  following  were  the  Field  Agents : 

W.  E.  Hope — Delaware,  New  Jersey  and  the  New  England 
States. 

F.  D.  Lee — Pennsylvania  and  New  York. 

D.   N.   E.   Campbell — Maryland. 

D.   E.   Wiseman — District  of   Columbia. 

Robert  Kelser — Virginia,  West  Virginia. 

C.  H.  Williamson — North  Carolina. 

A.  L.  Macbeth— South  Carolina,  Florida,  Georgia  and 
Alabama, 


172  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

F.  G.  Smith — Tennessee. 

J.  H.  May — Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  Texas  and 
Oklahoma. 

W.  W.  Fisher — Missouri,  Nebraska,  Kansas  and  Colorado. 

C.  H.  Johnson — Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Indiana. 

J.  H.  Porter — Illinois,  Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan. 

No  attempt  was  made,  owing  to  the  short  time  the  com 
mittee  had  to  collect  exhibits  from  points  further  west  than  in 
the  States  named,  although  there  were  a  number  of  race 
patriots  who  sents  exhibits  from  the  extreme  western  States, 
and  from  at  least  one  of  the  islands.  The  above  named  agents 
were  summoned  to  meet  the  Executive  Committee  in  the  city 
of  Washington,  on  January  22,  1907,  and  there  to  report  the 
exhibits  they  had  listed  and  the  general  status  of  affairs  in 
their  several  fields.  During  a  two  days'  conference,  the  com 
mittee  heard  from  each  and  then  outlined  to  them  the  plan 
of  the  further  campaign.  They  were  told  to  solicit  exhibits 
under  the  following  classifications  : 

(1)  Education,    including    photographs    of    buildings,    classes    and 
campus,    samples    of    literary    and    mechanical    work    of    pupils,    cata 
logues,  sets  of  text  books  used  by  the  pupils,  drawings,  compositions, 
kindergarten   paraphernalia,   etc. 

(2)  Homes,  to  include  small  models  of  good  homes,  photographs  of 
exteriors,    stables,    yards,    interiors,    parlors,    dining-rooms,    bed-rooms, 
kitchens,  etc. 

(3)  Farms,  samples  of  agricultural  products,  canned  and  preserved 
goods,  soils,  photographs  of  barns,  stock  and  machinery. 

(4)  Skilled    trades    and    organized    labor :    to    include    inventions, 
samples  of  workmanship,  photographs  of  shops  and  products. 

(5)  Business    enterprises,    including   photographs    of   banks,    stores, 
shops,    samples   of   stationery,   etc. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


NEGRO    BUILDING.      CORNER    ENTRANCE. 


174  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

(6)  Professions,   photographs,   libraries,   diplomas,  etc. 

(7)  Military  life,  to  include  swords  and  guns  worn  in  service,  photo 
graphs,    medals,    and   other   trophies   won    for   valor,    etc. 

(8)  Church  life,  to  include  photographs  of  church  buildings  show 
ing  exteriors  and  interiors,  pulpits,  etc.,  also  photographs  of  bishops, 
elders,   pastors,   and  officers  with   statement  showing  value   of   church 
property,   number   of   communicants,    and    various   branches    of   work, 
etc. 

(9)  Books  and  periodicals.    We  desire  especially  to  have  an  exhibit 
of  all  books  and  periodicals  written  or  published  by  Negro  authors. 

(10)  Music  and  art,  the  collection  of  art  work  at  this  Exposition 
promises  to  be  especially  good.     Send  your  work. 

(11)  Woman's  work.     While   no   distinction  will  be  made  against 
woman's  work  in  any  line,  we  desire  to  emphasize  that  we  want  a  full 
collection  of  samples  of  all  skilled  work  which   our  women  are  per 
forming. 

Each  of  the  field  agents  was  required  to  forward  a  daily 
report  on  a  card  addressed  to  the  committee.    The  blank  read : 

DAILY  REPORT  TO  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Within    the   24   hours    ending o'clock M.    (Month.) 

(Day.)     I  have  performed  the  following   (including  travel)  : 


One  week  from  to-day  I  plan  to  be  at, 
..Date.. 


(Sign  here) 

Field  Agent, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  175 

If  an  agent  failed  to  make  daily  reports  he  was  at  once 
called  upon  for  an  explanation.  No  feature  of  the  work  of 
promotion  was  more  fortunate  than  this,  for  the  Executive 
Committee  could  on  each  day  definitely  estimate  the  progress 
of  the  work  and  the  faithfulness  of  the  agents. 

When  the  conference  of  the  field  agents  closed  on  January 
23d,  one  of  them,  C.  H.  Williamson,  went  home  with  the 
determination  to  make  for  his  State  the  best  showing  of  them 
all.  He  and  C.  N.  Hunter  immediately  began  plans  for 
aggressive  work,  and  succeeded  in  securing  from  the  State 
of  North  Carolina  an  appropriation  of  $5,000  without  a  single 
dissenting  vote  in  the  Legislature.  With  these  funds  they 
were  able  to  bring  out  a  fine  exhibit. 

Early  antagonism  made  it  difficult  for  the  field  agents  to 
secure  a  ready  response.  It  was  decided,  therefore,  to  furnish 
to  the  Negro  newspapers  specially,  and  to  the  press  generally, 
items  of  interest  relative  to  the  progress  of  the  exhibit.  R. 
W.  Thompson,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  who  collected  the 
newspaper  exhibit,  was  secured  for  the  purpose,  and  he  did 
most  excellent  service  in  his  weekly  news  notes.  Most  of  the 
neswpapers  printed  these  notes,  and  thus,  without  compensa 
tion,  which  we  were  unable  to  give,  they  aided  materially  in 
stimulating  interest  in  the  success  of  the  exhibit. 

For  the  convenience  of  the  committee,  headquarters  were 
secured  in  the  Treasury  Building,  Washington,  D.  C.  The 
office  force  was  here  completely  organized.  All  mail  was 
opened  by  one  clerk,  who  "briefed"  it,  i.  e.,  wrote  on  a  fold  of 
the  letter,  or  upon  a  slip  pasted  to  it,  the  list  of  its  contents. 
These  letters  went  to  the  chief  clerk,  who  distributed  them 
to  the  chairman  or  secretary  of  the  committee,  or  to  the 
fiscal  agent,  whose  office  was  with  the  committee.  The 


NEGRO  BUILDING,  EASTERN  DOOR,  showing  the  fine  architectu 
ral  detail  that  entered  into  every  part  of  the  building.  Overhead  are 
the  big  electric  cables  that  brought  current  for  four  thousand  electric 
lights.  §176] 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  177 

Director  General  maintained  a  separate  office  in  Richmond, 
Virginia.  Three  stenographers  took  dictation,  a  book-keeper 
kept  the  records,  and  three  other  clerks  devoted  their  time 
exclusively  to  addressing  envelopes,  folding  circulars  and 
letters  and  miscellaneous  work.  All  dictated  letters  were 
copied  in  letter  press  books,  which  were  indexed  and  given 
cross  references.  An  alphabetical  index  record-card  was  made 
of  each  correspondent  and  these  letters  were  then  filed  under 
subject  classification.  That  is,  letters  relating  to  a  field 
agent,  were  filed  in  a  pocket  bearing  his  name  and  number, 
those  relating  to  exhibits  generally,  were  filed  in  a  pocket 
bearing  another  number  and  so  on.  Each  subject  was  given 
a  number  and  a  pocket,  and  the  index  record-card  indicated 
the  pocket  where  the  letter  could  be  found.  The  book-keep 
ing  was  done  with  equal  exactness.  Vouchers  were  required 
for  all  expenditures,  and  a  book  record  was  made  of  each  item. 
All  accounts  were  posted  daily,  and  a  record  was  kept  of  all 
obligations  incurred. 

When  it  came  to  preparing  for  the  reception  of  the  ex- 
hib'fs,  care  was  taken  to  provide  a  record  for  each  step. 
When  a  field  agent  reported  the  name  of  a  proposed  exhibitor 
a  circular  letter  was  sent  to  the  address  with  an  attached 
blank  to  be  filled  out  setting  forth  the  nature  of  the  exhibit, 
its  value,  size  and  general  description,  and  the  date  when  it 
would  be  ready  for  shipment.  When  the  time  for  shipment 
approached,  shipping  labels  and  tags  with  full  instructions 
printed  thereon,  were  sent  to  exhibitors  in  order  to  secure  a 
correct  delivery  at  Jamestown.  The  label  was  a  sheet,  eight 
by  eleven  inches,  so  printed  that  one  half  was  white  and  the 
other  half  black.  When  these  labels  were  pasted  on  packages 
of  exhibits,  transportation  agents  came  to  recognize  them  at 
a  glance  as  intended  for  the  Negro  building.  When  packages 


178  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

were  received,  each  was  given  a  number  before  being  opened, 
the  number  being  marked  on  the  box  or  package,  and  entered 
on  a  register  kept  for  that  purpose.  The  package  was  then 
opened  and  a  record  card  filled  out  showing  box  or  package 
number,  name  and  address  of  exhibitor,  name  of  transporta 
tion  company  at  starting  point,  name  of  company  from  which 
received,  date  when  shipped,  date  when  received  at  Negro 
building,  amount  of  charges,  a  description  of  each  article 
and  its  condition  when  received.  The  clerk  making  the  record 
signed  his  initial  at  the  bottom,  thus  making  himself  respon 
sible  for  its  accuracy.  These  cards  were  carefully  filed  and 
checked  up.  When  the  exhibits  were  subsequently  catalogued, 
errors  and  omissions  were  noted  and  corrected.  In  repack 
ing  the  exhibits  for  returning,  these  cards  were  of  invaluable 
aid,  enabling  the  packer  to  replace  articles  in  the  original 
cases,  thus  insuring"  dispatch  and  accuracy.  The  system  of 
records  and  accounts  was  planned  by  Andrew  F.  Hilyer, 
Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  committee.  In  carrying  out  this 
work  the  committee  was  most  fortunate  in  having  the  services 
of  T.  A.  Hill  as  stenographer  and  chief  clerk,  Mattie  E.  Tyler 
as  book-keeper,  Ruby  P.  Hughes,  as  file  clerk;  Arsine  E. 
Gresham  and  Frank  H.  Hallion.  as  stenographers,  Nannie  B. 
Jackson  and  Frances  B.  Dorkins,  as  mailing  clerks.  Others 
were  pressed  into  service  temporarily  during  rushes. 

SPECIAL  FEATURES 

Among  the  many  special  features  of  the  Negro  exhibit  was 
the  Emergency  Hospital  Exhibit.  A  committee  of  physi 
cians,  consisting  of  Dr.  A.  M.  Curtis,  chairman;  Dr.  George 
C.  Hall,  of  Chicago ;  Dr.  Joseph  J.  France,  of  Portsmouth, 
Virginia;  Dr.  R.  F.  Boyd,  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  Dr. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  179 

W.  A.  Warfield,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  kindly  gave  their 
services  to  the  work  of  gathering  an  exhibit  showing  the 
work  of  Negro  physicians.  To  do  this  effectively  a  separate 
building  was  arranged  for  and  this  was  fitted  out  with  three 
rooms  for  exhibits,  patients  and  attendants.  Dr.  James  F. 
Lawson,  was  secured  as  resident  physician.  Many  cases  of 
injury  and  sudden  illness  were  treated. 

PLANTATION  SONGS 

In  order  to  provide  an  exhibit  of  original  plantation  Negro 
music,  it  became  necessary  to  make  a  special  arrangement 
therefor.  A  representative  of  the  Executive  Committee  went 
to  Fisk  University,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  the  home  of  the 
original  Fisk  Jublilee  Singers,  and  negotiated  with  the  presi 
dent  of  that  institution  an  arrangement  whereby  a  dozen 
selected  voices,  male  and  female,  should  come  to  the  Negro 
building  and  render  two  or  more  concerts  daily  for  the  enter 
tainment  of  visitors.  It  was  agreed  to  employ  each  of  them 
for  certain  hours  as  guards  and  guides,  paying  each  sufficient 
salary  to  cover  his  expenses.  The  concerts  in  the  Negro 
building  were  free,  but  the  singers  were  enabled  to  give  pay 
concerts  in  another  part  of  the  Exposition,  and  in  the  vicinity, 
thus  realizing  an  income  for  meeting  their  expenses  in  the 
coming  year  of  school. 

The  Warwick  Tableaux  were  prepared  by  Miss  Meta  Vaux 
Warrick,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  The  committee  gave 
her  the  contract  February  27,  1907,  to  construct  in  a  true  and 
artistic  manner  a  series  of  fifteen  model  groups  to  be  so  ar 
ranged  as  to  show  by  Tableaux  the  progress  of  the  Negro  in 
America  from  the  landing  at  Jamestown  to  the  present  time. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  181 

These  Tableaux  will  be  found  heading  the  various  chapters 
of   this   volume. 

To  demonstrate  the  Negro's  skill  as  a  mechanic  and  inven 
tor  it  was  arranged  to  have  at  the  Jamestown  Negro  Exhibit 
a  department  in  which  to  have  mechanical  devices,  manu 
factures  and  inventions  by  artisans  of  the  race.  This  depart 
ment  was  in  charge  of  Arthur  N.  Newman,  the  instructor  in 
electricity  and  physics  at  the  Armstrong  Manual  Training 
School,  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  assisted  by  Franklin  N. 
Hilyer,  a  graduate  of  that  school,  who  had  shown  in  his 
studies  a  marked  aptitude  in  mechanics.  A  section  of  the 
first  floor  of  the  Negro  building,  containing  twelve  hundred 
square  feet,  was  set  aside  for  the  installation  of  inventions 
and  mechanical  devices.  Stress  was  laid  on  those  which 
could  be  kept  in  operation  during  the  hours  of  exhibit. 
Others  were  arranged  with  a  view  to  showing  their  adapta 
bility  to  the  purposes  intended.  Here  follows  a  list  of  the 
articles  and  inventions  actually  on  exhibit. 

DEVICE.  INVENTOR  OR  MAKER. 

Book  or  copy-holder B.  T.  Montgomery 

Boat  propeller S.  G.  Crawford 

Barber's  sign G.  A.  E.  Barnes 

Cotton  chopper,  scraper,  cultivator L.  D.  Moore 

Cotton  planter A.  C.  Taylor 

Coal  and  wood  cabinet Barton 

Cigarmaker's  board  (improved) A.  C.  Cambridge 

Chestnut  gatherer S.  G.  Crawford 

Curtain  support .  .  A.  C.  Taylor 

Duplex  mouthpiece  for  telephone. Ira  Ashe 


182  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Gun Alfred  McKnight 

Horse  over-boot R.  Coater 

Horse  over-shoe Wm.  Hill 

Hot  air  evaporator A.   F.   Hilyer 

Headlight W.  H.  Montgomery 

Harness  buckle  and  strap R.  B.  Benford 

Incubator  and  bread-raiser G.   F.   Carr 

Invalid's  bed A.   C.  Taylor 

Musical  clock W.  T.  Davis 

MINIATURE  RAILROAD 

Block  system A.  C.  Newman 

Trolley  wheel G.  R.  Robinson 

Car  fender M.  A.  Cherry 

Showing 

Electric  system A.  C.  Newman 

Spring  seat  for  chair A.   B.   Blackburn 

Model  battleship W.  W.  Davis 

Plough E.   Nelson 

Plough   and   heel   sweep   (improved) R.   P.   Rodgers 

Patent   models U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Passenger  register Wm.  Lawrence 

Ring  puzzle George  Ellis 

Track  crossing  and  wheel E.  R.  Robinson 

Model  steam  engine Eldridge  Nichols 

Wagon J.  W.  Dorkins 

Model  battleship Percy  Smith 

Model   schooner. James   Stanley 

Model  steamboat George  Kelley 

Model  battleship Willis  Toliver 

Model   tugboat 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  183 

Horse   shoe    exhibit John    Showell 

Electric  automobile,  original  design F.  N.  Hilyer 

Horse  shoe  exhibit Clarence  Kittrell 

Horse  shoe  exhibit John  Showell 

Horse  shoe  exhibit J.  H.  Stone 

Engine  and  boiler J.  Moore 

Pattern  exhibit G.  A.  Harrison 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

Disinfecting  generator F.  A.  Thomas 

Friction  heater C.  S.  L.  Baker 

i — one-half  H.  P.  nov  D.  C.  Motor. 

2 — one-eighth   H.   P.    nov   D.   C.   Motors. 

ELECTRICAL  DEPARTMENT, 
Armstrong  Manual   Training  School, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

In  addition  to  the  devices  listed  above  there  were  displayed 
printed  descriptive  drawings  and  specifications  of  three  hun 
dred  and  fifty-one  patents  by  Negroes,  loaned  by  the  United 
States  Patent  Office. 

THE  SAVINGS  BANK  EXHIBIT 

The  Negro  exhibit  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition  had  the 
unique  and  novel  feature  of  a  real  bank  in  operation  for  the 
convenience  of  visitors.  It  was  a  branch  of  the  Savings 
Bank  of  the  Grand  United  Order  of  True  Reformer's,  with 
headquarters  in  Richmond,  Virginia.  A  banking  business  of 
$75,731.87  was  done  during  the  Exposition  period,  many  white 
persons,  including  officials  of  the  United  States  on  duty 
at  the  Exposition,  being  among  its  patrons. 

The  affability   and   polite   manners   of  the  young  colored 


[  184  ]  REAR  DOOR  TO   NEGRO   BUILDING  AND  THE 

ARCHITECTURAL    SCHEME    SURROUNDING    IT 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  185 

cashier,  R.  T.  Hill,  Jr.,  were  commented  on  by  numerous 
visitors,  and  these  good  qualities  won  for  his  bank  much  of  its 
popularity.  The  bank  was  not  conducted  as  a  money-making 
venture,  though  it  so  proved.  It  was  provided  there  in  the 
Negro  building,  among  ten  thousand  other  exhibits,  to  show 
the  business  capacity  and  progress  of  the  Negro.  The  great 
success  it  had  in  demonstrating  this  capacity  was  another 
proof  of  the  wise  business  sense  and  practical  wisdom  with 
which  the  organization  of  which  it  was  an  exhibit  has  been 
and  is  now  being  conducted. 

In  the  Negro  exhibit  at  Jamestown  we  had  an  excellent 
collection  of  printed  scores,  composed  by  Negro  musicians. 
The  collection  was  made  and  installed  by  Clarence  C.  White, 
a  violinist  of  fine  ability,  and  consisted  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  compositions  by  seventy-eight  Negro  composers. 

There  was  also  a  collective  exhibit  of  newspapers,  edited 
and  published  by  Negroes,  including  175  newspapers  and 
magazines.  The  Brooklyn  Life  referring  to  this  exhibit  said : 
"One  of  the  most  convincing  proofs  of  the  progress  is  to  be 
found  in  an  alcove  devoted  entirely  to  newspapers  owned  and 
edited  by  Negroes.  The  number  of  such  publications  is 
astonishing." 

A  collection  of  three  hundred  volumes  of  books  written 
by  Negro  authors  was  displayed  in  the  Negro  Building.  The 
exhibit  was  prepared  by  Daniel  Murray,  who  has  been  en 
gaged  for  several  years  in  collecting  bibliography  of  Negro 
authors. 

A  considerable  section  of  the  building  was  set  aside  for  an 
agricultural  exhibit  and  this  feature  was  admirably  worked  out 
by  A.  L.  Macbeth,  who  arranged  as  wall  decorations  a  series 
of  mosaics,  made  of  grains  and  seeds.  The  ideas  were  original 


186  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

and  the  effect  unique.  Different  domestic  farm  animals  were 
well  executed  in  these  mosaics. 

It  was  difficult  to  say  what  was  the  most  creditable  exhibit, 
but  one  of  the  most  convincing  features  certainly,  was  the  large 
collection  of  719  exhibits  of  fancy  needle-work  by  409  individ 
ual  exhibitors.  There  was  every  variety  of  excellence,  but  by 
far  the  most  of  it  was  highly  creditable.  No  intelligent  de 
scription  of  it  is  possible  within  the  limits  of  the  space  of 
this  report.  For  a  further  description  of  these  exhibits,  at 
tention  is  invited  to  the  report  of  the  special  jury  of  awards 
which  is  included  in  and  made  a  part  of  this  report. 

When  it  was  desired  to  arrange  for  guards  to  protect  the 
exhibits,  application  was  made  to  Major  R.  R.  Moten,  for  two 
Hampton  students  to  act  as  officers  in  charge  of  guard  duty, 
and  he  selected  two  graduates,  J.  R.  Burruss  and  E.  D.  Mickel, 
and  it  was  largely  due  to  the  conscientious  attention  to  duty 
of  these  two  young  men,  together  with  J.  H.  Smith,  an  ex 
perienced  night  watchman,  that  practically  nothing  was  stolen 
from  the  building. 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  VISIT 

By  June  loth,  we  were  sufficiently  ready  to  receive  the 
President,  and  were  honored  by  a  visit  from  him  on  that  day, 
the  only  exhibit  building  which  he  visited  at  the  Exposition. 
After  inspecting  all  the  exhibits  carefully,  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Roosevelt,  Hon.  Victor  H.  Metcalf,  Secretary  of  the 
Navy;  Governor  Terrell,  of  Georgia,  and  others,  President 
Roosevelt  said  in  parting: 

"My  friends,  I  can  simply  say  one  word  of  greeting,  it  is 
a  great  pleasure  to  be  here  to  go  through  this  magnificent 
building  arid  to  see  the  unmistakable  evidences  of  progress 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  187 

you  are  making,  as  shown  by  the  exhibits  I  find  here.  I  con 
gratulate  you  upon  it ;  may  good  luck  be  with  you." 

Hon.  George  B.  Cortelyou,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  and 
chairman  of  the  Jamestown  Ter-Centennial  Commission, 
visited  the  Negro  Building  on  July  3d,  and  after  listening  to 
the  Jubilee  singers  and  examining  the  exhibits,  he  addressed 
the  assembled  audience  as  follows : 

"Mr.  Chairman,  I  want  to  say  to  you  that  I  am  delighted  to 
have  been  able  to  visit  you,  and  I  congratulate  you  most 
heartily  upon  what  you  have  done.  I  think  in  making  this 
exhibit,  you  have  chosen  the  way  of  winning  the  confidence  of. 
the  right  thinking  people,  because,  in  making  it,  you  show 
capacity,  signifying  progress,  progress  consistent  with  your 
self-respect,  progress  that  has  come  through  self-help,  the 
kind  of  progress  that  wins  its  way  through  the  world  every 
where.  You  are,  indeed,  to  be  congratulated  upon  what  you 
have  already  accomplished.  May  the  leaders  of  your  race, 
those  who  have  your  best  interest  at  heart,  lead  in  the  way  of 
the  progress  you  have  indicated  here,  and  may  the  people  of 
all  sections  lend  a  helping  hand  as  you  strive  to  solve  the 
problem  that  confronts  you." 

July  4th,  Independence  Day,  was  selected  as  the  formal 
opening  day  of  the  Negro  Building,  Professor  Kelly  Miller, 
of  Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.,  was  the  orator 
and  his  address  was  a  vigorous  presentation  of  the  relations 
of  the  races  and  the  hopefulness  of  a  final  and  complete  ad 
justment. 

A  large  attendance  was  present,  and  from  that  day,  the 
Negro  exhibit  was  pronounced  by  the  visiting  public  a  success. 

Prof.  Miller's  address  was  in  part  as  follows: 

"A  dozen  years  after  the  founding  of  the  European  popula- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  189 

tion  at  Jamestown,  there  came  another  bark  from  another 
continent  with  a  human  cargo  another  color  and  clime. 
Europe  and  Africa  have  made  America.  One  year  later  was 
planted  the  Plymouth  colony  at  the  North — that  handful  of 
corn  in  the  earth  whose  fruit  has  covered  and  reclaimed  the 
continent.  By  a  strange  coincidence  of  history,  within  the 
period  of  thirteen  years,  there  was  set  in  motion  the  three 
streams  of  population  and  tendency,  the  conflict,  adjustment 
and  balance  between  which  have  marked  the  measure  of 
American  progress. 

It  is  especially  fitting  that  the  Negro  should  have  his  part 
in  this  Ter-Centennial  celebration,  at  the  place  which  has 
witnessed  the  long  trial  of  trials  and  tragedy  and  triumph, 
too,  which  have  characterized  his  presence  on  this  continent. 
In  this  region  round  about,  the  first  African  slaves  entered 
the  house  of  bondage.  These  placid  waters  have  for  three 
centuries  heard  the  songs  of  sadness  and  joy  of  slave  and 
freeman,  as  he  rowed  his  skiff  and  poured  out  his  over-bur 
dened  soul,  surrounded  by  the  blue  waters  underneath  and 
the  blue  sky  overhead.  On  this  peninsula  were  enacted  many 
of  the  most  stirring  incidents  of  that  war  which  broke  his 
bonds  and  set  him  free.  It  was  on  this  shining  sheen  of  water 
that  iron  monsters  first  contended  in  titanic  conflict  for  mas 
tery  of  the  sea,  the  turning  point  not  only  of  our  War  be 
tween  the  States,  but  of  all  wars  in  the  future.  Over  across 
the  way,  under  a  weeping  willow,  Samuel  Chapman  Arm 
strong,  who  represents  philanthropy  incarnate,  and  who  gave 
himself  for  us,  sleeps  the  final  sleep  of  the  just  made  per 
fect.  How  fitting  then  that  the  Negro,  too,  should  com 
memorate  this  time  and  place,  which  is  intended  to  show 
something  of  the  part  which  he  has  played  in  the  general 
progress  of  the  nation." 


190  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

August  3d  was  set  aside  by  the  Jamestown  Exposition 
Company  as  Negro  Day,  and  all  the  machinery  of  the  Exposi 
tion  was  used  to  make  it  a  success.  Dr.  Booker  T.  Washing 
ton  was  the  orator  of  the  day,  and  there  assembled  to  hear 
him  one  of  the  largest  and  most  representative  audiences  of 
colored  people  ever  gathered  in  this  country.  Of  the  ten  thou 
sand  assembled  probably  two  thousand  were  teachers,  minis 
ters  and  other  leaders  who  had  been  in  attendance  upon  the 
Hampton  Negro  Conference.  The  program  of  the  day  in 
cluded  an  exhibition  drill  by  two  hundred  Hampton  students, 
led  by  their  own  brass  band,  the  address  by  Dr.  Washington 
and  a  concert  by  the  Fisk  University  Jubilee  Singers. 

Dr.  Washington  introduced  his  speech  as  follows: 

"I  have  been  surprised  and  pleased  at  the  neat  and  attrac 
tive  appearance  of  the  Negro  Building  and  at  the  large  ex 
hibit,  which  has  been  installed  in  such  an  attractive  and  in 
structive  manner.  I  am  free  to  say  that  I  wish  that  every 
member  of  my  race  could  come  here  and  witness  these  evi 
dences  of  progress  in  agricultural,  mechanical,  house-keep 
ing,  educational,  moral  and  religious  development." 

September  131!!  was  the  banner  day  in  attendance  at  the 
Negro  Building,  no  less  than  eighteen  thousand  people  hav 
ing  passed  through  the  building  on  that  day.  It  was  the  oc 
casion  of  the  Grand  United  Order  of  True  Reformers,  whose 
headquarters  are  at  Richmond,  Virginia.  Rev.  Wr.  L.  Taylor, 
the  president,  spoke  to  an  audience  that  filled  the  large  audi 
torium. 

There  were  many  other  notable  occasions,  and  altogether, 
it  is  estimated  from  our  register  and  daily  records  that  ap 
proximately  three-fourths  of  a  million  people  visited  the  Negro 
Building. 


192 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


REPORT  OF  THE  ADVISORY  BOARD  FOR  THE  NEGRO  BUILDING  OF 
THE  JURY  OF  AWARDS,,  JAMESTOWN  EXPOSITION 

The  Advisory  Board  was  composed  of: 

T.  S.  Inborden,  B.  S.,  Chairman. 

Principal  Joseph  K.  Brick,  Industrial  and  Normal  School, 
Enfield,  North  Carolina. 

Mary  Church  Terrell,  A.  M.,  Secretary;  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  Washington,  D.  C.,  magazine  writer  and 
lecturer. 

W.  D.  Crum,  M.  D.,  Collector  of  the  Port,  Charleston, 
South  Carolina. 

J.  C.  Napier,  LL.  B.,  Cashier  One  Cent  Savings  Bank,  and 
attorney  at  law,  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

W.  T.  B.  Williams,  A.  B.,  Agent  John  F.  Slater  Fund, 
School  Visitor  for  the  South,  Hampton,  Virginia. 

The  report  was  as  follows : 

Dr.  Albert  Shaw,  President  of  the  Jury  of  Awards:  We 
beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  report: 

The  Negro  exhibit  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition  is  surpris 
ingly  large  and  varied,  and  in  many  ways  full  of  significance. 
Practically  every  section  of  the  country  is  represented  by 
exhibits ;  and  their  variety  is  highly  illustrative  of  the  increas 
ing  diversity  of  interests  of  the  colored  people.  The  high 
quality,  too,  of  so  large  a  number  of  exhibits,  shows  in  a 
striking  way  the  advance  being  made  by  these  people.  It  is 
generally  agreed  that  in  every  particular  this  exhibit  surpasses 
the  exhibits  made  by  the  colored  people  at  former  expositions 
held  at  New  Orleans,  Atlanta  and  Charleston.  The  beauti'a!, 
commodious  Negro  Building,  designed  and  constructed  by 
Negroes  in  itself  an  excellent  exhibit  of  the  Negroe-'  taste 
and  skil  These  qualities  are  also  further  displayed  in  the 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  193 

pleasing  decorations  of  the  building  and  in  the  effective  in 
stallation  of  the  exhibits. 

The  whole  range  of  Negro  exhibits  collected  in  one  building 
sets  off  the  Negro  Building  in  sharp  contrast  with  the  other 
buildings  of  the  Exposition,  which  contained  exhibits  by 
classes  respectively.  This  general  and  comprehensive  ex 
hibit,  however,  has  proven  very  attractive  to  the  visitors. 
The  exhibits  are  arranged  according  to  subjects,  except  in 
the  case  of  the  North  Carolina  exhibit.  No  partition  was 
allowed  to  exceed  eight  feet  in  height.  This  kept  every 
exhibit  within  easy  reach  of  the  eye,  and  insured  good  ventila 
tion  throughout  the  building.  The  Negro  Building  also 
serves  as  a  social  center  for  the  colored  people  who  attend 
the  Exposition.  This  gives  the  building  a  pleasing  air  of 
hospitality  and  cheer  that  doubtless  helps  to  secure  a  large 
number  of  interested  visitors.  The  total  number  of  exhibits 
installed  is  9,926.  Of  this  number  the  Jury  of  Awards, 
selected  as  worthy  of  special  consideration,  220.  While  all 
these  are  good  in  many  respects,  some  are  especially  deserv 
ing  of  mention  in  this  report. 

Probably  the  most  artistic  of  these  exhibits  and  the  one 
most  suggestive  of  the  development  of  the  Negro  is  a  series 
of  historical  tableaux  by  Miss  Meta  Vaux  Warrick,  a  young 
colored  sculptress  of  Philadelphia.  For  the  tableaux  she 
chose  a  number  of  significant  incidents  in  the  career  of  the 
Negro  in  this  country  and  modeled  in  plaster  peculiarly  ap 
propriate  figures  to  represent  him  in  each  stage  of  his  ad 
vancement.  The  first  tableau  shows  the  landing  of  the  slaves 
at  Jamestown.  In  this  scene  they  are  bound  together  and 
wear  only  their  native  savage  dress.  The  second  tableau 
identifies  them  with  the  economic  interests  of  the  country, 
by  representing  them  at  work  in  a  cotton  field.  Here  they 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  195 

are  properly  clothed,  and  show  other  evidences  of  increas 
ing  civilization.  It  is  also  readily  apparent  that  the  slaves  are 
no  longer  uniformly  black.  The  third  scene  represents  a  run 
away  slave  in  hiding ;  the  fourth  goes  a  long  step  forward  and 
shows  a  Negro  organization — the  historically  true  beginning 
of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  greatest 
organization  of  the  race.  The  fifth  tableau  is  a  spirited  repre 
sentation  of  the  Negro's  loyalty  to  his  master  during  the 
War  between  the  States.  He  is  shown  here,  defending  his 
owner's  home.  The  scenes  that  follow  represent  the  Negro 
in  freedom,  and  show  the  pathetic  beginning  of  Negro  edu 
cation,  the  erection  of  the  first  home  of  the  freedmen ;  Negro 
soldier,  the  Negro  as  an  independent  farmer,  skilled  work 
men,  and  builders  and  contractors,  and  the  Negro  as  a  busi 
ness  man  and  banker.  The  last  three  scenes  include  tableaux 
of  the  home  and  church  of  the  modern,  successfully  educated, 
and  progressive  Negro,  and  of  a  college  commencement.  The 
story  of  the  development  of  the  colored  people  from  their  land 
ing  at  Jamestown  down  to  the  present,  is  skillful  and  artisti 
cally  told,  no  less  in  the  dress,  physical  bearing,  and  facial  ex 
pression  of  the  characters  than  in  the  subject  of  the  tableaux. 
It  is  a  remarkable  representation  admirably  executed. 

In  sharp  contrast  with  the  other  States,  and  especially 
with  Virginia,  on  whose  soil  the  Negro  first  landed,  shortly 
after  the  founding  of  Jamestown,  North  Carolina  enjoys  the 
distinction  of  having  made  an  appropriation  to  assist  her 
colored  citizens  in  making  a  display  of  their  progress  at  this 
Exposition.  The  bill  making  the  appropriation  of  $5,000  for 
this  purpose,  passed  both  houses  of  the  General  Assembly 
without  a  dissenting  vote.  North  Carolina  is  also  the  only 
State  whose  officials  included  in  their  exercises  at  the  James 
town  Exposition  and  official  visit  to  the  Negro  Building  and 


196  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

a  speech  from  the  Governor  of  the  State,  full  of  encourage 
ment  and  hope. 

The  North  Carolina  exhibit  covers  nearly  2,000  square  feet, 
and  occupies  a  place  of  distinction  in  the  Negro  Building, 
the  center  facing  the  main  entrance.  The  exhibit  is  large, 
containing  over  2,000  entries,  well  organized,  but  it  lacks 
somewhat  in  effectiveness  owing  to  want  of  room.  In  the 
department  of  agriculture  there  are  displayed  fine  samples  of 
wheat,  corn,  and  other  cereals,  grasses,  tobacco  and  cotton. 
The  department  of  horticulture,  and  domestic  science,  also 
have  fine  displays.  Under  the  head  of  needle-work  there  are 
300  entries,  including  excellent  work  of  all  kinds  from  in 
dividual  exhibitors  all  over  the  State,  and  exhibits  from  many 
of  the  schools  of  Durham,  and  Greensboro,  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Elizabeth  City,  the  High  Point  Normal  and  Indus 
trial  School,  the  Joseph  K.  Brick  School,  and  the  St.  Augus 
tine  School.  These  schools,  together  with  the  Agricultural 
and  Mechanical  College  at  Greensboro,  also  had  large  exhibits 
of  mechanical  work.  A  unique  exhibit  is  that  of  the  North 
Carolina  Institution  for  the  Deaf,  Dumb  and  Blind.  It  in 
cludes  excellent  samples  of  sewing,  brooms,  mattresses,  etc. 
There  are  besides,  interesting  departments  of  the  forestry, 
minerals,  fine  arts,  literature,  and  photographs  of  homes, 
schools,  churches,  offices  and  business  houses,  illustrative  of 
the  general  progress  of  the  colored  people  of  the  State  of 
North  Carolina. 

That  Negroes  are  not  wanting  in  inventive  genius  is  well 
illustrated  in  the  exhibit  of  inventions  by  colored  persons. 
In  order  to  show  the  authenticity  of  the  inventions  there  are 
displayed  about  fifty  models,  and  the  specifications  and  draw 
ings  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty-one  patents  issued  to 
Negroes  by  the  United  States  Patent  Office.  The  exhibits 


198  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

show  particular  inventions  pertaining  to  agriculture,  railroads 
and  manufactures.  Some  of  the  best  inventions  on  exhibit 
are  as  follows :  Three  inventions  by  A.  C.  Taylor,  a  com 
bined  fertilizer,  distributer  and  cotton  planter,  and  an  exten 
sion  step-ladder,  and  convenient  bed-springs,  that  may,  by 
the  turning  of  a  lever,  be  converted  into  chair ;  a  steel  car- 
wheel,  by  E.  R.  Robinson,  so  cast  that  it  is  perfectly  round 
when  it  comes  out  of  the  mould,  and  does  not  have  to  be 
turned  on  a  lathe  as  is  the  case  with  other  wheels.  By  this 
method  the  hardest  kind  of  cast  iron  may  be  used,  and  the 
wheel  lasts  five  or  six  times  as  long  as  the  ordinary  wheel. 
P.*  B.  Williams  has  an  invention  for  an  electric  switch,  con 
trolled  from  the  car.  This  enables  the  motorman  or  engi 
neer  to  operate  the  switch  while  the  car  is  in  motion.  A.  C. 
Newman  has  an  invention  for  a  block  system  for  railroads, 
operated  by  alternating  currents.  When  two  trains  are  in 
the  same  block  at  the  same  time,  red  lights  are  lit  in  the  cabs 
of  both  engines.  The  device  is  cheap  and  effective. 

The  large  and  attractive  display  of  shoe  polish  made  by  A. 
C.  Howard,  its  inventor  and  manufacturer,  is  a  fine  sample  of 
a  very  practical  invention  of  a  Negro.  His  two  factories,  one 
in  Chicago  and  one  in  New  York,  are  further  illustrations  of 
a  Negro's  ability  as  a  manufacturer  and  a  business  man. 

The  most  effective  exhibit  of  the  Negro  in  business  is  that 
made  by  the  True  Reformer's  Bank  of  Richmond,  Virginia. 
It  maintains  a  branch  bank  in  full  operation  in  the  Negro 
Building.  Up  to  September  ist,  this  bank  had  handled  $21,- 
146.  The  central  bank  in  Richmond  does  an  annual  business 
of  $1,500,000  and  carries  deposits  by  Negroes  to  the  amount 
of  $336,272.87. 

A  noteworthy  exhibit  of  china  painting  by  Mrs.  Frances 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


199 


Spencer  Dorkins  deservedly  attracts  a  great  deal  of  attention. 
A  number  of  her  exhibits  have  been  sold.  Among  the  pur 
chasers  is  Secretary  Metcalf  of  the  Navy  Department. 

The  display  of  sewing  and  fancy  work  is  one  of  the  notable 
features  of  the  Negro  exhibit.  It  includes  more  entries  than 
any  other  subject,  and  the  exhibitions  represent  every  sec 
tion  of  the  country.  These  exhibits  include  the  work  of  both 
schools  and  individuals,  and  comprise  practically  every  class 
of  sewing  and  fancy  needle-work,  crocheting  and  embroidery, 
battenburg,  Irish  point  lace,  madiera,  French  and  Roman  em 
broidery,  hebedo  work,  and  several  patterns  worked  in  har- 
danger  and  mountmelick  embroidery,  are  to  be  seen  among 
many  other  patterns  and  designs. 

The  excellence  of  this  work  elicits  from  the  visitors  con 
stant  praise  and  admiration.  A  list  of  those  deserving  of 
praise  would  be  far  too  long  to  include  here.  A  few  of  the 
most  excellent  exhibits  and  the  fancy  work  of  the  students  of 
the  St.  Francis  de  Sales  Institute,  at  Rock  Castle,  Virginia ; 
two  large  centerpieces,  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Fortie,  of  Phila 
delphia  ;  an  embroidered  skirt,  by  Mrs.  Julia  Harris,  of  Nor 
folk,  Virginia ;  a  lace  collar,  by  Mrs.  Susie  Clingman,  of 
Denver,  Colorado ;  a  battenburg  centerpiece,  by  Mrs.  Ida 
Underwood,  of  Rainbow,  Connecticut;  embroidered  priest's 
stoles,  by  Mrs.  Arthur  L.  Coombs,  of  Augusta,  Georgia ;  a 
mountmelick  centerpiece,  by  Mrs.  Marcelia  Mickens,  of  Cov- 
ington,  Virginia,  and  a  child's  dress,  hand-made,  by  Mrs.  Eliza 
Williams,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

The  exhibit  of  paintings  occupies  considerable  space,  and 
the  number  of  individual  exhibitors  is  large.  The  most  suc 
cessful  paintings  are  a  portrait  of  Booker  T.  Washington,  by 
J.  R.  Thompson ;  two  oil  paintings,  "Adam  and  Eve"  and  "An 


200 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


Old  Woman,"  by  Allen  Jones ;  a  painting,  "Eloise,"  by  Robert 
E.  Bell,  and  some  portrait  paintings  by  T.  W.  Hunster 
In  tfie  department  of  sculpture  there  are  but  few  exhibitors. 


ELECTRIC  RAILWAY  SWITCH 

Patented  by  P.  B.  Williams,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  The  motorman 
may  by  this  apparatus  move  switches  to  suit  himself  by  simply  turning 
a  lever.  This  model  was  in  actual  operation  in  the  Negro  Building. 

However,  Miss  Bertina  B.  Lee  submitted  ten  exceptionally 
fine  pieces. 
The  photographers'  exhibit,  on  the  other  hand,  is  exceedingly 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  2OI 

large  and  interesting.  Most  of  this  work  is  of  high  grade.  The 
subjects  chosen  by  the  exhibitors  added  greatly  to  the  inter 
est  of  the  exhibit  without  detracting  from  the  excellence  of 
the  photographers'  work.  Pictures  of  distinguished  colored 
men  and  of  the  houses  of  many  of  the  more  successful  colored 
people  of  the  various  cities  of  the  country  make  up  a  large 
part  of  this  exhibit.  A.  N.  Scurlock,  of  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
A.  P.  Bedou,  of  New  Orleans;  H.  M.  Brazelton,  of  Chatta 
nooga,  and  A.  L.  Macbeth,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
stand  out  as  the  most  successful  of  these  exhibitors. 

Agriculture,  in  which  so  many  of  the  colored  people  are 
engaged,  is  given  a  large  space  in  this  exhibit.  The  display 
was  very  attractively  arranged  by  Mr.  A.  L.  Macbeth,  of 
Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Agricultural  displays  are  also 
shown  in  the  exhibits  of  a  number  of  the  schools.  Fine  grades 
of  grain,  grasses,  tobacco  and  vegetables  are  shown.  A 
particularly  beautiful  exhibit  of  vegetables  by  Henry  Kirklin, 
of  Columbia,  Missouri,  is  especially  deserving  of  mention  in 
this  connection. 

The  lack  of  education  among  the  colored  people  and  their 
great  desire  for  self-improvement  had  for  years  made  educa 
tion  the  interest  of  greatest  importance  among  them.  Ac 
cordingly,  no  exhibit  of  the  progress  of  the  Negro  is  com 
plete  without  some  representation  of  their  schools.  The 
work  of  most  of  these  schools  is  so  many-sided,  novel  and  ob 
jective,  and  so  far  removed  from  mere  text-book  routine,  that 
it  lends  itself  readily  to  the  purpose  of  exhibition.  It  is  very 
natural,  then,  that  exhibits  of  the  work  of  Negro  schools 
should  form  a  large  part  of  this  presentation  of  the  Negro's 
progress  in  this  country.  Both  the  literary  and  industrial 
schools  have  many  representatives  in  this  display  ,and  every 
phase  of  work  from  the  primary  grades  to  the  college  and 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  203 

professional  school,  is  shown  in  some  form.  Public  and  pri 
vate  schools,  and  schools  for  defectives,  alike  have  work  on 
exhibition. 

Most  of  this  work  is  very  creditable  and  some  of  it  highly 
meritorious.  But  in  consideration  of  what  it  stands  for  in  the 
main,  it  is  all  worthy  of  great  praise.  It  is  the  representation 
of  what  is  coming  to  be  a  general  movement  in  education 
throughout  the  South  no  less  than  in  other  sections  of  the 
country.  It  is  expected,  of  course,  that  practical  manual 
training  work  should  be  shown  by  the  better  private  colored 
schools,  for  in  fact  it  is  through  them  that  such  work  has  made 
its  way  into  the  schools,  but  that  public  schools  to  so  great 
an  extent  are  emphasizing  training  for  the  economic  efficiency 
and  at  the  same  time  making  the  work  educating  is  agreeably 
surprising.  And  especially  is  this  true  when  it  is  found  that 
such  work  is  finding  its  way  into  the  rural  schools,  as  is  illus 
trated  by  the  exhibit  of  Norfolk  county,  Virginia.  The  fine 
showing  made  by  these  schools  is  due  to  the  work  of  the 
Southern  Industrial  Classes,  which  also  carry  on  the  manual 
training  work  in  the  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth  schools.  The 
classes  are  mainly  supported  by  philanthropy,  but  their  work 
receives  the  support  and  sympathy  of  the  local  school  offi 
cials.  The  public  schools  of  the  cities  of  Newport  News, 
Lynchburg,  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth,  in  Virginia;  Durham 
and  Asheville,  North  Carolina,  together  with  other  cities,  had  a 
very  good  exhibit  of  both  literary  and  manual  training  work. 
There  is  also  a  unique  exhibit  from  Washington,  D.  C.,  show 
ing  the  work  of  the  schools  from  the  elementary  grades 
through  the  high  and  Normal  schools.  Miniature  school 
rooms  displayed  the  equipment  of  these  schools  and  appro 
priate  figures  represent  teachers  and  pupils  at  work.  The 


204  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

exhibit  made  by  the  Armstrong1  Manual  Training  School  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  is  in  itself  also  very  meritorious. 

Nearly  all  the  educational  work  among  the  colored  people 
above  the  graded  schools  is  carried  on  by  private  schools  and 
colleges.  These  institutions  fall  roughly  into  two  general 
groups — the  industrial  schools,  and  the  colleges  devoted 
mainly  to  literary  training.  The  best  exhibits  made  by  repre 
sentatives  of  the  industrial  schools  are  those  from  the  Hamp 
ton  Institute  and  from  the  St.  Emma  and  St.  Francis  de 
Sales  Institute  at  Rock  Castle,  Virginia.  The  colleges  hav 
ing  the  best  exhibits  are  Fisk  and  Howard  Universities.  These 
exhibits  are  worthy  of  mention  in  some  detail. 

In  its  order,  completeness  and  artistic  arrangement,  the 
exhibit  of  the  Hampton  Institute  is  by  far  the  best  made  by 
industrial  schools.  It  is  fortunately  located  near  one  of  the 
main  entrances.  The  ample  space  allotted  to  it  is  enclosed 
in  a  restful  room  with  walls  covered  with  grayish  brown  bur 
lap  and  hung  writh  large,  pleasing  pictures,  illustrating  the 
work  of  the  school.  An  ample  fireplace,  flanked  by  inviting 
settees,  welcomes  visitors,  an  exhibit  showing  effectively  one 
of  the  practical  industries  taught  at  the  school.  About  the 
room  are  neatly  finished,  substantial  chairs,  desks,  tables  and 
show-cases  made  by  the  students,  and  used  here  to  display 
other  work.  Each  subject  taught  is  represented  in  three 
ways — by  a  large  fine  picture  of  the  students  performing  the 
work,  by  a  sample  of  the  work  itself,  and  by  a  chart  outlining 
the  course  of  study  for  that  trade  or  industry.  For  example,  the 
machinists'  trade  is  represented  by  a  picture  of  the  shop  and 
an  engine  made  by  the  boys ;  printing,  by  a  picture  of  students 
at  work  and  by  books  and  pamphlets  turned  out  by  that  de 
partment  ;  wheel-wrighting  and  blacksmithing  are  objectively 
represented  by  a  fine  delivery  wagon;  and  harness-making, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


205 


by  an  excellent  set  of  harness,  etc.  Agricultural  work  is 
illustrated  by  cases  of  growing  plants  showing  the  growth  of 
roots  in  different  soils  at  varying  depths.  The  girls'  manual 
training  work  is  shown  by  the  exhibits  of  cooking,  canned 


HAND-PAINTED    CHINA,    BY    FRANCES    SPENCER   DORKINS, 
VALUED   AT   $5O.OO. 

fruits,  dresses  and  underwear  made  "at  the  school.  And,  as 
examples  of  the  all  round  training  given  the  girls,  there  are 
pictures  showing  girls  washing,  ironing,  house-cleaning,  cook- 


206.  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

ing,  setting  tables,  cutting  and  sewing.  A  fine  picture  of  a 
young  man  reading  to  two  old  people  in  their  cabin,  aptly 
illustrates  the  community  work  and  the  missionary  spirit 
cultivated  at  Hampton  Institute.  The  literary  work  done  at 
the  school  is  clearly  set  forth  on  large  charts  containing  the 
course  of  study  for  the  trade  school,  the  under-graduate 
academic  course,  and  the  graduate  courses.  Altogether,  this 
is  the  most  effective  exhibit,  eloquent  of  the  very  practical  and 
many-sided  training  given  by  this  finely  equipped  and  well 
maintained  institution. 

The  exhibit  made  by  the  St.  Francis  de  Sales  and  the  St. 
Emma  Industrial  Institutes  is  also  striking  in  the  excellence 
of  its  industrial  display.  The  number  of  fine  vehicles  on  ex 
hibition  is  rather  indicative  of  a  factory  than  of  a  trade  school. 
The  other  wood-work,  harness,  shoes,  etc.,  show  very  good 
workmanship ;  and  the  sewing  and  fancy  work  of  the  girls' 
department  easily  surpasses  that  of  the  other  schools,  and 
rivals  much  of  the  best  of  the  private  exhibitors.  The  school 
also  has  a  good  exhibit  of  its  literary  work  covering  the  com 
mon  school  branches  and  the  three-year  high  school  course. 

Prominent  among  a  number  of  schools  having  highly  credi 
table  industrial  exhibits  are  Tougaloo  University  of  Missis 
sippi,  Claflin  University  of  South  Carolina,  the  Joseph  K. 
Brick  School  and  the  High  Point  Normal  and  Industrial 
School  of  North  Carolina,  the  Virginia  Normal  and  Industrial 
Institute  and  the  Robert  Hungerford  Industrial  School  of 
Florida. 

A  large  number  of  schools  and  colleges  devoted  mainly  to 
literary  studies  also  have  exhibits  of  their  work,  school  plants, 
courses  of  study,  etc.  These  are  represented  in  the  main  by 
pictures  and  charts.  In  this  way  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Missionary  Society,  for  instance,  shows  the  buildings  and 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  207 

many  features  of  the  work  of  their  whole  system  of  schools 
for  the  colored  people.  Several  of  these  schools  have  samples 
of  their  literary  work  on  exhibition.  These  are  excellent  illus 
trations  and  represent  work  of  college  grades.  Howard  Uni 
versity,  Washington,  D.  C.,  makes  a  fine  display  of  its  build 
ings,  grounds,  and  emphasizes  its  professional  schools  of  law, 
medicine,  pharmacy,  theology  and  education.  This  exhibit 
occupies  a  booth  to  itself.  A  noteworthy  feature  of  the  dis 
play  is  a  sociological  chart  with  data  relative  to  the  number, 
apportionment,  occupations  and  vital  statistics,  etc.,  of  the 
Negroes  in  this  country. 

Fisk  University  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  has  a  very  unique 
exhibit  and  one  that  proves  to  be  not  only  a  most  interesting 
feature  of  the  Negro  exhibit,  but  of  the  Exposition  as  well. 
It  consists  of  demonstrations  of  various  phases  of  the  work  of 
the  University  by  its  students  in  regular  class-room  order,  and 
of  the  singing  of  folk  songs,  popularly  known  as  plantation 
melodies,  by  the  students.  These  demonstrations  are  given 
twice  daily,  and  always  to  large  audiences.  The  most  inter 
esting  demonstrations  have  proved  to  be  those  in  chemistry 
(qualitative  analysis),  physics,  astronomy,  biology,  and  the 
simpler  branches  of  college  mathematics.  No  more  character 
istic  exhibit  of  the  Negro  could  well  be  made  than  by  the 
singing  of  the  plantation  melodies,  the  songs  of  the  old  colored 
people,  by  the  Fisk  students.  These  folk  songs  are  regarded 
by  eminent  musical  authorities  as  the  only  distinctive  contri 
bution  which  America  has  made  to  the  music  of  the  world. 
At  any  rate  they  are  singularly  beautiful ;  and  no  one  of  the 
thousands,  white  and  black,  who  heard  this  musical  exhibit 
will  forget  the  songs  or  the  remarkable  singing  of  the  stu 
dents.  The  "JrttMlee  Club,"  as  these  singers  are  called  at 
Fisk,  represent,  in  a  way,  .the  first  "Jubilee  Club"  of  this 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 

institution,  which,  between  1871  and  1878,  "sang  up"  Jubilee 
Hall,  the  main  building  of  the  university,  constructed  at  a 
cost  of  $150,000,  by  means  of  concerts  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe.  It  is  but  natural,  then,  that  Fisk  should  be  inter 
ested  in  keeping  alive  these  old  songs.  And  it  is  a  pleasing 
tribute  of  Fisk's  appreciation  of  this  music  to  present  it  along 
with  her  demonstrations  of  the  higher  training  of  the  Negro. 
This  "live"  exhibit  amply  merits  the  warm  and  continuous 
welcome  which  it  receives. 

Other  significant  and  interesting  exhibits  are  those  of  the 
Negro  press,  and  of  music  and  books  written  by  Negroes. 
A  long  list  of  newspapers  is  on  exhibition.  The  large  and 
varied  exhibit  of  music  written  by  colored  persons  is  surpris 
ing.  Much  of  it  is  the  waning  popular  "rag"  music,  but  much 
of  it  is  also  of  high  order,  and  there  are  popular  pieces  that 
have  been  sung  the  country  over  without  the  least  suspicion  of 
the  authors  being  colored  men. 

The  book  exhibit  contains  most  of  the  recent  books  writ 
ten  by  colored  men  and  women  as  well  as  a  number  of  older 
books.  Most  of  these  books  bear  upon  some  phase  of  the  his 
tory,  development  or  the  economic  and  social  condition  of  the 
Negro. 

Aside  from  the  valuable  writings  of  men  like  Booker  T. 
Washington,  DuBois  and  Sinclair,  probably  the  most  inter 
esting  feature  of  the  book  display  is  a  rare  set  of  bound 
pamphlets  shown  by  Mr.  Daniel  Murray,  who  collected  the 
book  exhibit,  a  card  catalogue  of  five  thousand  Negro  authors 
gives  some  idea  of  the  literary  work  done  by  Negroes.  This 
catalogue  was  compiled  by  Mr.  Daniel  Murray,  who  is  em 
ployed  in  the  Congressional  Library. 

The  report  of  the  jury  would  hardly  be  complete  without 
some  reference  to  the  men  and  women  who  contributed  most 


2io  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


BY    MRS.    ELIZA    WILLIAMS 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  211 

toward  making  the  Negro  exhibit  a  possibility  and  toward 
making  of  it  the  great  success  it  has  proven.  The  concep 
tion  of  the  idea  of  a  special  Negro  exhibit,  the  securing  from 
the  United  States  Government  sufficient  means  to  give  tangi 
ble  form  to  the  idea,  the  fortunate  selection  of  the  architect 
for  the  Negro  Building,  and  his  singularly  happy  design  suc 
cessfully  executed  by  fellow  Negro  contractors  and  builders, 
the  attractive  installation  of  the  numerous  and  significant 
exhibits,  the  excellent  system  of  accounts  and  records  and 
the  very  effective  general  management  of  the  Negro  Building, 
merit  our  highest  commendation,  and  make  a  telling  exhibit  of 
the  all-around,  practical  development  of  the  Negro. 

The  following  are  deserving  of  special  mention :  Mr.  Giles 
B.  Jackson,  for  the  general  idea  and  for  securing  the  neces 
sary  appropriation;  Mr.  W.  Sidney  Pittman,  the  architect; 
Messrs.  Boiling  &  Everett,  the  contractors  and  builders ;  Mr. 
Andrew  F.  Hilyer,  who  developed  the  system  of  accounts ; 
Mr.  C.  H.  Williamson,  who  collected  and  installed  the  North 
Carolina  exhibit.  Other  collaborators,  A.  L.  Macbeth,  T. 
W.  Hunster,  Daniel  Murray,  R.  W.  Thompson,  and  Clarence 
White ;  and  finally  the  efficient  general  manager,  Mr.  T.  J. 
Calloway,  and  his  very  capable  wife,  who  rendered  him  inval 
uable  service  in  almost  every  department. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  213 

NUMBER  OF  EXHIBITORS,  EXHIBITS  AND  AWARDS  BY  GROUPS 
IN  THE  NEGRO  BUILDING 

Exhibi-  Ex- 
tors,  hibits.     Awards 

Group  I.  Historical  Art 2  151  2 

Group  II.  Education 117  6.334  59 

Group   III.   Social   Economy 37  338  7 

Group  IV.  Fine'  Arts: 

Painting's   and   drawings 93  244  o 

China    Painting    6  90  4 

Sculpture 3  14  o 

Pyrography,   carving,   etc 7  50  I 

Architecture — House  models 11  13  2 

Photography    40  426  10 

Group  V.  Manufactures 102  213  TO 

Liberal   Arts    90  237  10 

Inventions    55  4J4  9 

Fancy  needle-work   409  719  43 

Group  VI.  Machinery I  I  o 

Group  VII.   Transportation i  12  I 

Group  VIII.   Agriculture 31  34  2 

Group  IX.  Horticulture 3  10  o 

Group  X.  Food  and  Food  Products.  .      17  107  2 

Group  XT.  Forestry,  Fish  and  Game.  .        3  3  o 

Group  XII.  Mines  and  Mining 6  6  o 

Group  XIII.  Graphic  Arts 454  510  o 


Total    i  ,504     9,962  162 

No    awards    for   paintings,    drawings    and    sculpture    were 
made,  the  Exposition  Company  having  abolished  that  depart- 


OF  THE  NEGRO   RACE 


215 


ment  after  such  exhibits  were  collected  for  the  Negro  Build 
ing 

There  were  exhibits  in  Group  IX,  Horticulture,  Group  XI, 
Forestry,  Fish  and  Game,  and  in  Group  XII,  Mines  and  Min 
ing,  and  Group  XIII,  the  Graphic  Arts,  which  contained  a 
large  number  of  books  and  several  samples  of  printing,  on 
which  no  awards  were  made 

The  following  is  a  detailed  list  by  groups  of  medals  awarded : 

GROUP   I. — HISTORICAL  ART 

GOLD    MEDALS 

Fisk  University,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  painting  of  Original 
Jubilee  Singers. 

Meta  Vaux  Warrick,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  Historic 
Tableaux  of  the  Negroes'  Progress. 

GROUP  II. — EDUCATION 

GOLD    MEDALS 

Agricultural  and  Normal  University,  Langston,  Oklahoma, 
photographs  and  industrial  work. 

Claflin  University,  Orangesburg,  South  Carolina,  class-room 
and  industrial  exhibit. 

Fisk  University,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  a  demonstration  and 
literary  work. 

Hampton  Normal  and  Agricultural  Institute,  Hampton, 
Virginia,  photographs  and  industrial  work. 

Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.,  photographs. 

Lynchburg,  Virginia,  Public  School,  class-room  and  indus 
trial  work. 

Norfolk  County,  Virginia,  Public  School,  class-room  and 
industrial  work. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  21? 

Penn  School,  St.  Helena  Island,  South  Carolina,  photo 
graphs  and  basketry. 

St.  Emma  Industrial  and  Agricultural  College,  Rock  Castle, 
Virginia,  industrial  work. 

St.  Francis  de  Sales  Institute,  Rock  Castle,  Virginia,  fine 
needle-work. 

Virginia  Union  University,  Richmond,  Virginia,  photo 
graphs,  literary  and  industrial  work. 

West  Virginia  Colored  Institute,  Charleston,  West  Vir 
ginia  industrial  exhibit. 

Wilberforce  University,  Wilberforce,  Ohio,  drawings,  paint 
ings,  literary  and  industrial  work. 

SILVER   MEDALS 

Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  Greensboro,  North 
Carolina,  class-room  and  industrial  work. 

Alcorn  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  Alcorn,  Mis 
sissippi,  class-room  and  industrial  work,  model  houses. 

Armstrong  Manual  Training  School,  Washington,  D.  C., 
industrial  work. 

Joseph  K.  Brick  School,  Enneld,  North  Carolina,  class-room 
and  industrial  work. 

Hartshorn  Memorial  College,  Richmond,  Virginia,  literary 
and  industrial  work. 

High  Point  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  High  Point, 
North  Carolina,  industrial  work. 

Robert  Hungerford  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  Eaton- 
ville,  Florida,  industrial  work. 

Knoxville  College,  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  photographs. 

Lincoln  Public  School,  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  drawings. 

Mount  Vernon  Public  School,  Camden,  N.  J.,  class-room 
and  manual  training  work. 


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OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 

Newport  News,  Virginia,  Public  School,  class-room  and 
industrial  work. 

Norfolk  Mission  College,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  photographs 
and  industrial  work. 

Portsmouth,  Virginia,  Public  School,  industrial  work. 

Princess  Anne  Academy,  Princess  Anne,  Maryland,  photo 
graphs  and  industrial  work. 

Richmond,  Virginia,  Public  School,  class-room  and  indus 
trial  work. 

Sheldon's  Kindergarten  School,  Topeka,  Kansas,  kinder 
garten  work. 

St.  Augustine's  School,  Greensboro,  North  Carolina,  class 
room  and  industrial  work. 

Temperance  and  Industrial  Institute,  Claremont,  Virginia, 
industrial  exhibits. 

Tougaloo  University,  Tougaloo,  Mississippi,  class-room 
and  industrial  work. 

Virginia  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute,  Petersburg,  Vir 
ginia,  literary  and  industrial  work. 

Xenia,  Ohio,  Public  School,  class-room  and  industrial  work. 

BRONZE   MEDALS 

American  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society,  New  York, 
photographs. 

Asheville,  North  Carolina,  Public  School,  class-room  and 
industrial  work. 

Attucks  Public  School,  Carbondale,  Illinois,  class  room 
work. 

Boydton  Academy,  Boydton,  Virginia,  class-room  and  in 
dustrial  work. 

Chilicothe,  Ohio,  Public  School,  class-room  work. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  221 

Curry  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute,  Urbana,  Ohio,  class 
room  and  industrial  work. 

Dorchester  Academy,  Thebes,  Georgia,  examination  papers. 

Georgia  State  College,  College,  Georgia,  industrial  exhibit. 

Harlem  Academy,  Tampa,  Florida,  class-room  work. 

Henderson,  Kentucky,  Public  School,  class-room  and  indus 
trial  work. 

Lincoln  Public  School,  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  class-room 
work. 

Memphis  Public  School,  Memphis,  Tennessee,  examina 
tions. 

Orange  Park  Normal  School,  Orange  Park,  Florida,  photo 
graphs. 

Owensborough,  Kentucky,  Public  School,  class-room  work. 

Portsmouth,  Ohio,  Public  School,  class-room  and  industrial 
work. 

St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  Public  School,  industrial  work. 

St.  Joseph's  Industrial  School,  Clayton,  Delaware,  indus 
trial  work. 

St.  Paul's  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  Lawrenceville, 
Virginia,  industrial  exhibit. 

St.  Peter  Claver's  School,  Tampa,  Florida,  class-room  work. 

Talladega  College,  Talladega,  Alabama,  literary  and  indus 
trial  work. 

Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  Public  School,  class-room  work. 

Thyne  Institute,  Chase  City,  Virginia,  class-room  work. 

Western  University,  Quindaro,  Kansas,  class-room  work 
and  industrial  work. 

Whitted  Graded  School,  Durham,  North  Carolina,  class 
room  and  industrial  work. 


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OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  22$ 

GROUP  III. — SOCIAL  ECONOMY 

GOLD  MEDAL 

Deaf,  Dumb  and  Blind  Institute,  Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
Industrial  work. 

SILVER    MEDAL 

Freedman's  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  photographs. 

BRONZE   MEDALS 

Bute  Street  Baptist  Church,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  photographs, 
Rev.  R.  H.  Boiling,  pastor. 

Bath  House,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  photographs. 

W.  H.  Crocker,  Suffolk,  Virginia,  photographs  showing 
Negroes'  progress  in  Suffolk,  Virginia. 

Kelly  Miller,  Washington,  D.  C.,  statistical  charts. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Wilson,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  Wilson's  Infirmary. 

GOLD    MEDAL 

Frances  Spencer  Dorkins,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  hand-painted 
china. 

BRONZE   MEDALS 

Addie  Byrd,  Columbus,  Ohio,  hand-painted  china. 
Anna  Buckhart,  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  hand-painted  china. 
Fannie  Clinkscales,  Topeka,  Kansas,  hand-painted  china. 
G.  Athur  Lewis,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  pyrography. 

GOLD    MEDALS 

A.  P.  Bedou,  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  photographs. 
A.  N.  Scurlock,  Washington,  D.  C.,  photographs. 


224 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


SILVER   MEDALS 


H.  M.  Brazelton,  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  photographs. 
George  O.  Brown,  Richmond,  Virginia,  photographs. 
George  W.  Hill,  Anderson,  South  Carolina,  photographs. 


First  Quality  Corn,   Wheat  and   Oats   displayed   on   a  background  of 
prime  cotton  lint. 

J.  J.  Lay,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  photographs. 

A.  L.  Macbeth,  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  photographs. 

G.  A.  Turner,  Washington,  D.  C,  photographs. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  225 


BRONZE   MEDALS 

J.  C.  Farley,  Richmond,  Virginia,  photographs. 

Daniel  Freeman,  Washington,  D.  C.,  photograph. 

James  de  Shields,  Wilmington,  Delaware,  house  model. 

Charles  McNeil,  Mount  Pleasant,  South  Carolina,  house 
model. 

The  fact  that  there  were  no  awards  in  painting  and  draw 
ing  does  not  mean  that  there  were  no  highly  creditable  ex 
hibits  in  this  class,  but  that  the  Jamestown  Exposition  abol 
ished  the  department  of  fine  arts  after  the  exhibits  were  col 
lected. 

GROUP  V. — MANUFACTURES 

SILVER   MEDALS 

Walter  S.  Ebb,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  buffet  (hand-made)t 
J.  H.  Stone,  Atchison,  Kansas,  horse-shoe. 

BRONZE   MEDALS 

James  Archer,  Chester,  South  Carolina,  casket. 

C.  W.  Diggs,  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  furniture. 

Durham  Elite  Mattress  Company,  Durham,  North  Caro 
lina,  mattresses. 

Durham  Hosiery  Mills,  Durham,  North  Carolina,  hose. 

A.  C.  Howard,  New  York  city,  shoe  polish. 

L.  Simms,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  shoe-repairing  and  shoe- 
making. 

William  E.  Spencer,  Cedarville,  Ohio,  combination  book 
case. 

J.  W.  Vandervall,  East  Orange,  New  Jersey,  mattresses. 


226 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 
LIBERAL  ARTS 


SILVER   MEDALS 

Dr.  E.  B.  Jefferson,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  plate  work  (den 
tistry). 


Made  of  Grains  of  Corn  of  different  colors. 
BRONZE   MEDALS 

Dr.  Richard  G.  Baker,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  plate  work 
(dentistry). 

Dr.  Howard  Bundy,  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  plate  work 
(dentistry). 

Mrs.  T.  A.  Ceruti,  Jacksonville,  Florida,  hair  work. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  227 

Mrs.  Fowler,  Henderson,  Kentucky,  hair  work. 
Mrs.  E.  Warrick,  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey,  hair-dressing. 
John    T.    Dooley,    Old    Sweet    Springs,    West    Virginia 
(jewelry). 

W.  N.  Page,  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  violin. 

O.  M.  Tibbs,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  musical  instruments. 

J.  H.  Wood,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  iron  work. 

INVENTIONS 
GOLD  MEDALS 
S.  G.  Crawford,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  boat  propeller. 

SILVER   MEDALS 

A.  C.  Newman,  Washington,  D.  C,  block  signal  system. 
A.  C.  Taylor,  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  cotton  planter. 

BRONZE   MEDALS 

G.  F.  Carr,  Lexington,  Kentucky,  incubator  and  bread- 
maker. 

Robert  Coates,  Washington,  D.  C.,  overboot  for  horses. 

William   Hill,  Denver,   Colorado,  horse  over-shoe. 

L.  D.  Moore,  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  cotton  chopper,  scraper 
and  cultivator. 

R.  P.  Rodgers,  Spartanburg,  South  Carolina,  improved 
plow  and  heel  sweep. 

A.  C.  Taylor,  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  extension  ladder. 

FANCY  NEEDLEWORK 
GOLD  MEDALS 

Margaret  Fortie,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  embroidered 
centerpieces. 

Marcelia  Mickens,  Covington,  Virginia,  Mountmelick  cen 
terpiece. 


228 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


Edna  Nixon,  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  centerpiece. 
Ida  Underwood,  Rainbow,  Connecticut,  battenburg  center 
pieces. 

SILVER   MEDALS 

Lettie  Beauford,  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado,  table  cover. 


Constructed  of  Rice,  Oats,  Black  Beans,  surrounded  with  Corn. 

Annie  M.  Cormick,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  pillows. 
Jennie  Higgins,  Westerville,  Ohio,  battenburg  work. 
Annie  F.  Holloway,  Washington,  D.  C.,  burial  robe. 
Julia  Harris,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  embroidered  skirt. 
M.  R.  Jennings,  Roanoke,  Virginia,  hardanger  centerpiece. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  229 

Anna  C.  Marrow,  New  York  city,  table  cover. 

Katie  Moseley,  Stoneville,  Mississippi,  Chocheter  bed-set. 

Annie  McNorton,  Yorktown,  Virginia,  centerpiece. 

Ida  Parsans,  Princess  Anne  Courthouse,  Virginia,  batten- 
burg  work. 

Florence  Paul,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  table  cover. 

Virginia   Scott,   Philadelphia,    Pennsylvania,   lunch   set. 

Esther  Turner,  Richmond,  Indiana,  counterpane. 

Eliza  Williams,  Brooklyn,  New  York,  child's  dress. 

Airs.  J.  L.  Wright,  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  bureau  scarf  and 
table  cover. 

BRONZE   MEDALS 

Bettie  Allen,  Stems,  North  Carolina,  a  home-woven  blanket. 

Clara  E.  Allen,  Sweet  Springs,  West  Virginia,  counterpane. 

Mrs.  P.  C.  Barber,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  knitted  work. 

Blanche  Brown,  Findlay,  Ohio,  table  cover. 

Mrs.  J.  M.  Brown,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  shadow- 
work  dress. 

Eva  Bundy,  Sommerset,  Pennsylvania,  lunch  set. 

Susie  Clingman,  Denver,  Colorado,  lace  collar. 

Martha  Cooper,  Washington,  D.  C.,  doily. 

Linnie  Davis,  Portsmouth,  Virginia,  counterpane. 

Ella  P.  Green,  Cornwall,  New  York,  pillow. 

Phillippa  Hardy,  Wilmington,  Delaware,  silk  waist. 

Frances  F.  Jackson,  Sutherlin,  Virginia,  centerpiece. 

Sadie  Price  Lewis,  William's  Bridge,  New  York,  suit  of 
underwear. 

Kate  Moody,  New  York,  New  York,  centerpiece. 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Macfarland,  Tampa,  Florida,  bureau  scarf  and 
pillow. 

Kate  Nelson,  Battery,  Virginia,  fancy  work. 


230  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Mrs.  F.  E.  Paul,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  table  cover. 
Mrs.   Harry  A.   Plato,   Hartford,   Connecticut,  battenburg 
collar. 

Mollie  Pollock,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  table  cover. 

Elizabeth  Pope,  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  battenburg  collar. 


SOME  FORCES  OF  THE  SOUTH 

Mrs.  R.  W.  Smith,  Covington,  Virginia,  centerpiece. 
Mrs.  W.  A.  Thomas,  Millwood,  Virginia,  table  cover. 
Woman's   Exchange,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  needlework. 

GROUP  VII. — TRANSPORTATION 

BRONZE    MEDAL 

J.  B.  Powell,  Mount  Pleasant,  South  Carolina,  buggy. 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE 


231 


GROUP  VIII.  —  AGRICULTURE 

SILVER    MEDAL 

Ruftis  Jordan,  Henderson,  Kentucky,  tobacco. 

BRONZE    MEDAL 

••"I'"- 

Wm.  Sutton,  Henderson,  Kentucky,  tobacco. 

GROUP  X.  —  FOOD  AND  FOOD  PRODUCTS 

GOLD  MEDAL 

Henry  Kirklin,  Columbia,  Missouri,  canned  vegetables. 

SILVER  MEDALS 
L.  E.  Kennedy,  Interlachen,  Florida,  canned  fruit. 

In  submitting  this  report  as  the  final  statement  of  the  Exe 
cutive  Committee,  we  desire  to  express  our  appreciation  for 
the  cordial  and  hearty  confidence  of  the  Ter-Centennial  Com 
mission  and  the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company 
and  our  lasting  gratitude  to  our  field  agents,  installers,  and  all 
other  employes  for  their  faithful  service  and  especially  to  the 
hundreds  of  exhibitors  who  risked  the  loss  and  damages  of 
their  valuable  exhibits  in  order  to  enable  us  to  make  a  good 
showing  at  Jamestown. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

THOS.  J.  CALLOW  AY, 

Chairman. 
ANDREW  F.  HILYER, 

Secretary-Treasurer. 
GILES  B.  JACKSON, 

Director-General. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


233 


Mr  Giles   B.  Jackson, 

Richmond,  Virginia. 
My  Dear  Sir: 

I  visited  and  examined  several  times  the  Negro  exhibit  at 
the  Jamestown  Exposition,  and  was  very  much  pleased  with  it. 
It  indicated  the  great  progress  that  is  being  made  by  this  race. 
The  exhibit  was  very  fine,  well  collected  and  well  exhibited. 
You  deserve  much  commendation  for  the  success  of  your 
work. 

Very  truly  yours, 

CLAUDE  A.  SWANSON, 
Governor  of  Virginia. 

Mr.   Giles   B.   Jackson, 

200  East   Broad  Street, 

Richmond,   Virginia. 
My  Dear  Sir : 

Ldo  not  exactly  recall  the  contents  of  my  last  letter,  but  I 
have  ho  hesitation  in  saying  that  the  Negro  exhibit  at  the 
Jamestown  Exhibition  was  a  success,  and  deserved  the  ap 
proval  of  all  good  citizens,  white  and  colored. 

North  Carolina  donated  $5,000  towards  its  colored  exhibit, 
and  in  my  opinion  the  exhibition  made  by  the  colored  people 
from  our  State  was  a  fine  advertisement  for  the  State  and 
amply  repaid  us  for  the  money  expended.  The  whole  exhibit 
was  well  managed  and  creditable,  showing  the  progress  of  the 
Negro  from  the  time  of  his  emancipation  up  to  the  present 
time,  and  giving  a  better  idea  of  his  advancement  and  capa 
bility  than  has  been  heretofore  shown. 

Again,  I  repeat,  that  the  exhibit  was  in  every  way  credita- 


[234] 


WASHINGTON     SCHOOL     EXHIBIT 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  33$ 

ble  to  your  race  and  I  take  pleasure  in  commending  the  man 
agement  of  the  exhibition. 

Very  respectfully, 

R.  B.  GLENN, 

Governor. 

Mr.  Giles  B.  Jackson, 
Director-General, 

528  East  Broad  Street, 
Richmond,  Virginia. 

My  Dear  Sir: 

In  response  to  your  letter  of  the '9th,  I  take  pleasure  in 
making  the  following  report  of  my  experience  at  Jamestown : 

I  visited  the  Negro  Building  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition 
and  I  was  politely  received  and  conducted  through  all  of  its 
departments  by  the  superintendent.  I  was  very  agreeably 
surprised  at  the  wonderful  advance  made  by  the  colored  people 
of  the  United  States  as  evidenced  by  the  exhibit  there  made. 
The  departments  embraced  nearly  every  line  of  production  and 
art,  and  were  all  full,  and  the  arrangements  were  tastefully 
made.  I  was  especially  impressed  with  the  numerous  models 
of  useful  machinery,  many  of  them  set  up  and  in  successful 
operation.  The  large  building  in  which  the  exhibit  wa?  made, 
I  was  informed,  was  designed  by  a  Negro  architect  and  built 
by  Negro  mechanics.  The  entire  Negro  exhibit,  including 
the  building,  was  highly  creditable. 

Hoping  that  this  may  answer  your  purpose,  I  anij 
Very  truly  yours, 

ANDREW  L.  HARRIS. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  237 

June   15,    1908. 
Mr.  Giles  B.  Jackson, 

528  East  Broad  Street, 
Richmond,  Virginia. 
My  Dear  Sir : 

In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  Qth  instant,  I  beg  leave  to 
advise  you  that  owing  to  Governor  Stuart's  limited  stay  at 
the  Jamestown  Exposition  he  was  compelled  to  forego  the 
pleasure  of  visiting  your  exhibit,  and  he  is,  therefore,  unable 
to  give  an  opinion  concerning  its  success.  He  directs  me  to 
say,  however,  that  from  statements  he  has  heard  concern 
ing  your  department,  it  was  an  entire  success. 
Very  truly  yours, 

A.  B.  MILLAR, 
Private  Secretary. 

The  wisdom  of  a  separate  department  showing  the  achieve 
ments  of  the  Negro  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition  was  evi 
denced  by  the  fact  that  it  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to 
demonstrate  to  the  world  his  capacity  as  a  producer  and  the 
maker  of  any  and  everything  that  has  been  made  by  other 
races.  It  was  indeed  startling  to  the  world  to  behold  such 
a  magnificent  exhibit  on  behalf  of  the  colored  people  of  the 
country.  It  was  stimulating  to  the  race  and  placed  a  different 
estimate  upon  the  Negro  as  a  race.  The  white  people  of  the 
country  were  especially  interested  in  this  department  as  shown 
by  the  thousands  of  them  who  frequented  the  Negro  Build 
ing.  By  actual  count  there  were  from  three  to  twelve  thou 
sand  white  people  who  visited  the  building  every  day,  from 
the  day  of  the  opening  until  the  day  it  closed,  all  of  whom 
were  loud  in  their  praise  and  admiration  of  the  showing  made 
by  the  Negro.  Among  the  visitors  there  was  a  large  num- 


OP  THE  NEGRO  RACE  239 

her  of  Governors  and  others  in  high  places  from  the  different 
States.  We  here  produce  letters  from  a  few  Governors,  who 
have  expressed  their  opinion  of  this  exhibit. 

EXPOSITION  NOTES 
JAMESTOWN  EXPOSITION  GROUNDS,  June  14,  1907. 

It  is  now  Friday  and  I  just  composed  myself  to  write  some 
thing  about  the  great  Negro  exhibit  upon  these  grounds.  It 
was  only  announced  on  Friday  last  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  would  visit  the  Negro  Building  on  his  second 
visit  to  this  exposition  to  participate  in  the  Georgia  Day  cele 
bration.  There  were  a  number  of  colored  people  assembled  at 
the  Negro  Building  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  President,  and 
not  only  did  he  come,  but  also  Mrs.  Roosevelt,  who  honored 
the  Negro  Building  with  her  presence.  Gov.  Terrell,  of 
Georgia,  accompanied  President  and  Mrs.  Roosevelt  on  their 
visit. 

The  Negro  reservation  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  composed  of  Thomas  J..  Galloway,  Chairman;  A. 
F.  Hilyer,  Secretary,  and  Giles  B.  Jackson,  Director-General. 
It  was  announced  that  the  President  would  reach  the  Negro 
Building  at  12:30  o'clock,  and  at  11:30  the  whole  Negro 
reservation,  consisting  of  six  acres  of  land  with  eight  or  ten 
outbuildings  and  the  mammoth  exhibit  building  were  turned 
over  to  General  Grant.  The  soldiers  were  in  the  building,  and 
for  the  time  being  the  building  was  under  martial  law.  No 
one  could  enter  or  go  out  without  the  permission  of  the 
soldiers.  Tickets  of  admission  had  been  issued  to  hundreds  of 
persons  who  gained  admission  to  the  building  before  the  sol 
diers  had  surrounded  it,  and  still  there  were  hundreds  on  the 
outside.  They  remained  patiently  until  the  arrival  of  the 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  241 

President,  who  was  detained  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour. 
A  few  minutes  after  12  o'clock  it  was  announced  by  Mr.  T.  J. 
Galloway  that  the  President  was  detained  in  reviewing  the 
troops ;  that  the  line  was  much  longer  than  it  had  been  ex 
pected,  therefore,  he  could  not  reach  the  Negro  Building  at 
the  time  appointed.  Mr.  Galloway  thereupon  introduced  to 
the  audience  Colonel  Giles  B.  Jackson,  Director-General  of  the 
Negro  exhibit.  In  presenting  him,  he  said :  "Ladies  and 
gentlemen  :  I  present  to  you  the  man  who  created  this  exhibit ; 
the  man  through  whose  efforts  this  exhibit  was  made  pos 
sible  ;  the  man  who  secured  the  appropriation  of  $100,000  from 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  make  this  exhibit 
the  success  that  it  is."  Colonel  Jackson  came  forward  and 
said :  "Ladies  and  gentlemen,  friends  and  fellow-citizens : 
I  have  always  been  used  as  one  to  fill  in  in  the  absence  of 
others.  I  have  always  accepted  this  position  whenever  I  was 
called  upon  to  do  so,  and  now  I  am  called  upon  to  entertain 
you  until  the  President  of  the  United  States  can  reach  you — • 
in  other  words,  I  am  to  entertain  you  for  the  President.  It 
has  always  been  my  lot,  not  only  to  fill  in  for  others,  but  to 
fill  in  for  a  great  cause,  and  I  know  of  no  cause  greater  than 
the  creating  of  this  special  exhibit  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
to  the  world  the  capacity  of  the  Negro  race  of  this  country, 
therefore,  I  have  made  a  specialty  for  the  last  three  years  to 
create  interest  sufficient  to  bring  about  this  exhibit  that  you 
now  see  installed  in  this  building.  These  beautiful  exhibits 
are  evidence  of  the  thrift  and  progress  made  by  the  colored 
people  in  this  country.  No  one  would  believe  that  the  thou 
sands  of  exhibits  installed  in  this  building  were  made  by 
colored  people  unless  they  were  in  a  separate  building,  there 
fore,  you  will  agree  with  me  that  my  effort  to  bring  about  this 
separate  exhibit  will  do  credit  to  the  Negro  race  of  this 


242 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


country.  Would  you  believe  that  the  Negro  could  bring- 
about  such  results  were  you  not  here  to  see  for  yourself  ?  And 
yet  there  are  thousands  of  members  of  my  race  who  would 
not  believe  that  for  the  fact  that  this  committee  placed  here 


FANCY  WORK  BY  MRS.   MARCELIA  MICKENS,  COVINGTON,  VA. 

in  charge  of  this  exhibit  is  held  responsible  by  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States.  The  government  would  not  have 
a  committee  who  would  not  tell  the  truth.  We  have  evidence 
from  every  section  of  the  country  that  they  are  the  work  of 
the  Negroes,  and  that  they  are  owned  and  operated  by  the 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  243 

Negroes.  Come  to  the  exposition  building  and  see  the 
Negroes  demonstrate  their  work.  See  the  products  produced 
by  Mr.  A.  L.  Macbeth,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina ;  see 
the  exhibit  of  Miss  Frances  Spencer,  of  Philadelphia,  Penn 
sylvania,  who  is  an  artist  of  great  ability,  and  who  is  demon 
strating  her  work  of  china  painting.  See  the  different  exhibits 
from  the  Negro  schools  sent  from  all  over  the  country,  where 
there  are  Negro  pupils  and  Negro  teachers. 

.Would  you  not  agree  with  me  that  the  separate  exhibit  has 
done  a  great  deal  to  encourage  and  stimulate  the  race,  and  it 
will  cause  other  members  of  our  race  to  go  home  and  do 
something?  I  don't  claim  to  be  a  leader  of  the  race,  but  I 
want  to  do  something  for  the  benefit  of  the  Negro.  If  any  one 
wants  to  be  punished,  let  him  start  out  to  do  something  as  a 
leader  of  the  race,  and  he  will  meet  with  difficulties,  obstacles 
and  abuse  at  the  hands  of  those  who  are  doing  nothing  and 
don't  want  to  do  anything.  If  I  were  to  tell  you  of  the  many 
obstacles  that  I  met  with  in  trying  to  bring  about  this  exhibit 
you  would  all  be  startled,  but  right  triumphs  over  wrong  with 
less  effort  than  wrong  triumphs  over  right.  Knowing  that  I 
was  in  the  right  in  trying  to  bring  about  this  exhibit,  I  went 
forward  and  feared  nothing.  You  go  home  and  tell  the  people 
of  the  great  progress  we  have  made  here.  There  never  has 
been  such  an  exhibit  as  this  one  before.  The  building  that 
is  used  to  house  the  Negro  exhibit  is  one  of  the  finest  build 
ings  on  the  grounds,  if  not  the  finest.  You  may  think  strange 
for  me  to  say  this,  but  if  you  don't  believe  it  you  can  come 
and  see." 

At  this  time  the  President  drove  up  and  Colonel  Jackson 
ended  his  speech.  Mrs.  A.  M.  Curtis,  hostess  of  the  Negro 
Building,  met  the  President  and  his  party  at  the  door  and 
presented  him  to  Colonel  Jackson.  The  President  shook 


Exhibit  of  Oil  Color  Painting  of  Mrs.  Mary  Church  Terrell,  by 
J.  R.  Thompson,  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Terrell  is  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  of  the  District  of  Columbia  and  the  only  lady  on  the 
Jury  of  Awards  for  the  Negro  Building.  [  £44  ] 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  245 

hands  with  and  congratulated  Mr.  Jackson  upon  the  great 
progress  the  Negro  had  made,  then  Colonel  Jackson  intro 
duced  to  the  President,  Mr.  W.  I.  Johnson,  the  President  of 
the  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Company ;  Rev.  A. 
Binga,  Jr.,  Vice- President ;  Mr.  R.  T.  Hill,  Treasurer,  and 
Prof.  R.  Kelser,  Secretary  of  the  company.  Colonel  Jackson 
made  an  apology  to  the  President  because  the  exhibit  was  not 
complete,  he  said  that  not  one-tenth  of  the  exhibits  had  been 
installed,  but  said  that  if  he  would  come  again  in  about  a 
month  he  would  see  what  the  Negroes  had  done  in  this  coun 
try.  As  we  have  a  large  number  of  carloads  of  exhibits  at 
every  station  in  the  city  of  Norfolk  and  steamboat  landings, 
but  the  exhibits  you  will  see  as  already  installed  in  this  build 
ing  is  of  itself  a  great  success.  You  will  be  surprised  when 
you  shall  have  gone  around  this  building  and  seen  the  evi 
dence  of  thrift  and  progress  made  by  the  Negroes  of  this 
country.  The  President  was  then  shown  around  the  building 
by  the  committee  and  expressed  admiration  and  astonishment 
at  the  character  of  the  exhibits  that  he  found  installed.  On 
several  occasions  he  would  call  Mrs.  Roosevelt's  special 
attention  to  the  workmanship  upon  the  exhibits.  The  Presi 
dent  expressed  himself  as  being  wonderfully  pleased  and  satis 
fied  at  what  he  saw  at  the  Negro  exhibit.  To  say  that  the 
exhibit,  even  as  it  is,  without  the  carloads  waiting  to  be  de 
livered,  it  is  a  success  beyond  all  expectations.  To  say  this 
would  not  be  expressing  it  too  strong,  for  there  is  no  doubt 
of  the  fact  that  the  Negro  exhibit  is  now  a  success  from  the 
point  on  number  and  character  of  the  exhibit.  Governor  Ter 
rell,  of  Georgia,  who  accompanied  the  President,  was  aston 
ished  at  what  he  saw.  He  was  satisfied  with  what  they  al 
ready  had  installed  that  the  Negro  exhibit  was  complete. 
The  President  and  his  party  left  the  building  giving  the  Negro 


246  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

all  the  praise  and  admiration  for  the  exhibit  they  saw.  Gov 
ernor  Glenn,  of  North  Carolina,  came  the  next  day  and  he  was 
surprised  at  the  character  of  the  exhibit  confronting  him.  He 


OIL  PAINTING,  BY  R.  E.  BELL,  NASHVILLE,  TENN. 

said  that  when  Colonel  Jackson  visited  him  in  Raleigh,  he  at 
once  took  an  interest  in  the  Negro  exhibit  and  has  done  all 
in  his  power  to  aid  the  Negro  to  make  a  good  showing.  His 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  247 

State  gave  them  $5,000  and  he  was  proud  of  it. — From  the 
Negro  Criterion. 

NOTEWORTHY  INCIDENT. 

When  the  President's  carriage,  driven  by  Mr.  Edward 
Fairfax,  containing  Mayor  McCarthy,  Governor  Montague, 
Secretary  Loeb,  and  the  President  reached  a  point  on  Broad 
Street,  it  was  stopped,  and  the  President  gave  a  particularly 
marked  bow  of  recognition  to  the  young  ladies  of  the  Harts 
horn  Seminary  and  the  young  men  of  the  Virginia  Union 
University;  special  effort  having  been  put  forth  to  have  the 
President  visit  the  two  schools. 

The  next  pause  in  the  line  of  march  occurred  a  few  mo 
ments  later,  when  the  President's  carriage  stopped  in  front 
of  528  East  Broad  Street,  the  headquarters  of  the  Colored 
Jamestown  Exposition  Company,  where  the  President  called 
for  Mr.  Giles  B.  Jackson,  who  hastened  down  from  his  office 
window,  hastily  rushed  through  the  crowd  and  approached  the 
carriage,  standing  bare-headed  while  the  President  said : 

"Mr.  Jackson,  I  congratulate  you  upon  your  work.  The 
banks  here  and  the  business  enterprises  among  your  people 
show  evidences  of  their  thrift  and  success.  I  assure  you  of 
my  support  in  your  efforts. 

"I  want  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  showing  your  school 
children  have  made,  and  further,  I  wish,  as  an  American,  to 
congratulate  the  representatives  of  the  colored  race,  who  have 
shown  progress  in  the  industrial  interest  of  this  city.  All  they 
have  done  in  that  way  means  genuine  progress  for  the  race. 
I  am  glad,  as  an  American,  for  what  you  are  doing.  The 
standing  of  the  banks  in  this  city,  as  managed  by  colored  men, 
should  give  genuine  pride  to  all  the  colored  men  of  this  coun- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


249 


try.  Its  record  is  an  enviable  one.  You,  colored  men,  who 
show  in  business  life  both  ability  and  a  high  order  of  integrity, 
are  real  benefactors,  not  only  of  your  race,  but  of  the  whole 
country." 

With  a  smile,  Mr.  Jackson  bowed  his  acknowledgements 
of  the  President's  remarks  to  him,  as  an  individual,  and  in 
behalf  of  the  colored  citizens  in  general.  With  a  tremendous 
cheer  the  procession  moved  on  to  the  Capitol  Square,  where 
the  Mayor  presented  the  Governor  and  the  Governor  intro 
duced  the  President. 

NOTE. — This  refers  to  President  Roosevelt's  visit  to  Rich 
mond  in  October,  1905. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  251 

CHAPTER  XX 
POEMS,  PLANTATION  MELODIES,  ETC. 

The  highest  expression  of  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  a. 
race  must  be  found  in  its  folk-songs  and  more  ambitious 
poems.  We  have  thought  it  wise  to  give  a  few  of  these  in  this 
volume  for  the  pleasure  and  study  of  our  readers.  They  are 
taken  from  various  sources,  but  all  are  true  to  Negro  thought, 
and  are  well  worthy  of  preservation. 

HAIL!     HAIL!     HAIL! 

Oh,  look  up  yonder,  what  I  see — 

I'm  on  my  journey  home; 
Bright    angels    comin'    arter    me — 

I'm   on   my  journey   home. 

Chorus. — Children,   hail !   hail !   hail ! 

-Uc 

I'm  gvvine  jine  saints  above; 
Hail!   hail!   hail! 

I'm   on   my  journey   home. 

If  you  git  dere  before  I  do — 

I'm  on  my  journey  home; 
Look  out  for  me,  I'm  comin'  too — 

I'm   on    my   journey   home. 

Chorus. — Children,   hail !   etc. 

Oh,  hallelujah  to   de  Lamb! 

I'm  on  my  journey  home; 
King  Jesus  died  for  ebery  man — 

I'm   on   my   journey   home. 

Chorus. — Children,   hail !   etc. 


ST.    EMMA   INDUSTRIAL   AND   AGRICULTURAL   SCHOOL, 
[252]  ROCK  CASTLE,  VA. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


MY  LORD  DELIVERED  DANIEL. 

I  met  a  pilgrim  on  de  way, 
An'  I  ask  him  whar  he's  a-gwine. 
I'm  bound  for  Canaan's  happy  land, 
An'  dis  is  de  shouting  band.     Go  on ! 

Chorus. — My  Lord  delibered  Daniel, 
My  Lord  delibered  Daniel, 
My  Lord  delibered  Daniel — • 
Why  can't  he  deliber  me? 

Some   say   dat  John   de   Baptist 

Was  nothing  but  a  Jew  ; 

But  de  Bible  doth  inform  us 

Dat  be  was  a  preacher,  too. — Yes,  he  was ! 

Chorus. — My  Lord  delibered  Daniel,   etc. 

Oh,  Daniel  cast  in  the  lions'  den, 
He  r ray  both  night   and   day; 
De  angel  came  from  Galilee, 
And  lock  de  lions'  jaw.     Dat's  so. 

Chorus. — My  Lord  delibered  Daniel,   etc. 

He  delibered  Daniel  from  de  lions'  den, 
Jonah  from  de  belly  ob  de  whale, 
An'  de  Hebrew  children  from  de  fiery  furnace 
An'  why  not  ebery  man  ?    Oh,  yes  ! 

Chorus. — My  Lord  delibered  Daniel,   etc. 

De  richest  man  dat  eber  I  saw 
Was  de  one  dat  beg  de  most ; 
His  soul  was  filled  wid  Jesus, 
An'  wid  de  Holy  Ghost.    Yes,  it  was. 

Chorus. — My  Lord  delibered  Daniel,   etc. 


253 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE,  255 


VIEW  DE  LAND. 

I'm  born  of  God,  I  know  I  am — View  de  land,  view  de  land ! 
And  you  deny  it  if  you  can — Go  view  de  heav'nly  land. 
I  want  to  go  to  heaven  when  I  die — View  de  land,  view  de  landl 
To  shout  salvation  as  I  fly — Go  view  de  heav'nly  land. 

Chorus — 

Oh,  'way  over  Jordan — View  de  land,  view  de  land! 
'Way  over  Jordan — Go  view  de  heav'nly  land. 

What  kind  of  shoes  is  dem-a  you  wear?     View  de  land,  etc. 
Dat  you  can  walk  upon  the  air?     Go  view,  etc. 
Dem  shoes  I  wear  are  de  Gospel  shoes — View  de  land,  etc. 
An'  you  can  wear  dem  ef-a  you  choose — Go  view,  etc. — Cho. 

Der'  is  a  tree  in  paradise — View  de  land,  etc. 

De  Christian  he  call  it  de  tree  of  life — Go  view,  etc. 

I  spects  to  eat  de  fruit  right  off  o'  dat  tree — View  de  land,  etc. 

Ef  busy  old  Satan  will  let-a  me  be — Go  view,  etc. — Cho. 

You  say  yer  Jesus  set-a  you  free — View  de  land,  etc. 
Why  don't  you  let-a  your  neighbor  be?     Go  view,  etc. 
You  say  you're  aiming  for  de  skies — View  de  land,  etc. 
Why  don't  you  stop-a  your  telling  lies?     Go  view,  etc. — Cho. 


OH,   YES. 

Ef  eber  I  land  on  de  oder  sho' — Oh,  yes ! 

I'll  neber  come  here  for  to  sing  no  more — Oh,  yes. 

A  golden  band  all  round  my  waist, 

An'  de  palms  of  victory  in  my  hand, 

An'  de  golden  slippers  on  to  my  feet — 

Gwine  to  walk  up  an'  down  o'  dem  golden  street. 

Chorus. — Oh,  wait  till  I  put  on  my  robe — 

Wait  till  I  put  on  my  robe.     Oh,  yes !     Oh,  yes ! 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE  257 

An'  my  lobely  bretherin,  dat  ain't  all — Oh,  yes 

I'm   not   done   a-talkin'   about   my   Lord, 

An'  a  golden  crown  a-placed  on-a  my  head, 

An'  my  long  white  robe  a-come  a-dazzlin'  down ; 

Now  wait  till  T  get  on  my  Gospel  shoes, 

Gwine  to  walk  about  de  heaven  an'  a-carry  de  news. — Cho. 

I'm  anchored  in  Christ,  Christ  anchored  in  me. — Oh,  yes. 

All  de  debils  in  hell  can't  a-pluck  me  out; 

An'  I   wonder  what  Satan's  grumbling  about. 

He's  bound  into  hell,  an'  he  can't  git  out, 

But  he  shall  be  loose  and  hab  his  sway — 

Yea,    at   de   great   resurrection    day. — Cho. 

I  went  down  de  hillside  to  make  a-one  prayer — Oh,  yes ! 

An'  when  I  got  dere  Ole  Satan  was  dere — Oh,  yes ! 

An'  what  do  you  t'ink  he  said  to  me?     Oh,  yes! 

Said,  "Off  from  here  you'd  better  be."     Oh,  yes  ! 

And  what  for  to  do  I  did  not  know — Oh,  yes ! 

But  I  fell  on  my  knees  and  I  cried  "Oh,  Lord!" — Oh,  yes! 

Now,  my  Jesus  bein'  so  good  an'  kind, 

Yea,   to   the   with-er-ed,    halt,    and   blind — 

My  Jesus  lowered   His  mercy  down, 

An'  snatch-a  me  from  a-dem  doors  ob  hell, 

He  a-snatch-a  me   from  dem   doors  ob  hell, 

An'  took-a  me  in  a-wid  him  to  dwell. — Cho. 

I  was  in  de  church  an'  prayin'  loud, 

An'  on  my  knees  to  Jesus  bowed; 

Ole  Satan  tole  me  to  my  face 

"I'll  git  you  when-a  you  leave  dis  place." 

Oh,   brother,   dat   scare  me  to  my  heart, 

I  was  'fraid  to  walk-a  when  it  was  dark. — Cho. 

I  started  home,  but  I  did  not  pray, 
An'  I  met  ole  Satan  on  de  way; 
Ole  Satan  made  a-one  grab  at  me, 
But  he  missed  my  soul  an'  I  went  free, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  259 

My  sins  went  a-lumberin'  down  to  hell, 

An'  my  soul  went  a-lcapin'  up  Zion's  hill, 

I  tell  you  what,  bretherin,  you'd  better  not  laugh, 

Ole  Satan'll  run  you  down  his  path ; 

If  he  runs  you  as  he  run  me 

You'll  be  glad  to  fall  upon  your  knee. 

Chorus. — Oh,  wait  till  I  put  on  my  robe 

Wait  till  I  put  on  my  robe.     Oh,  yes !     Oh,  yes  1 

NOBODY  KNOWS  THE  TROUBLE  I'VE  SEEN. 

Sometimes  I'm  up,  sometimes  I'm  down — Oh,  yes,  Lord. 
Sometimes  I'm  almost  to  de  groun' — Oh,  yes,   Lord. 
Although  you  see  me  goin'  long  so — Oh,  yes,  Lord. 
I  have  my  trials  here  below. — :Oh,  yes,  Lord. 

Chorus. — Oh,  nobody  knows  de  trouble  I've  seen, 
Nobody  knows   but  Jesus ; 
Nobody  knows  de  trouble  I've  seen — 
Glory  Hallelujah! 

One  day  when  I  was  \valkin'  along — Oh,  yes,  Lord. 
De  element  opened,  an'  de  love  came  down — Oh,  yes,  Lord. 
I  never  shall  forget  dat  day — Oh,  yes,  Lord, 
When  Jesus  washed  my  sins  away. — Oh.  yes,  Lord. 
Chorus. — Oh,  nobody  knows  the  trouble,  etc. 

THE    DANVILLE    CHARIOT. 

Chorus. — Oh,  swing  low,  sweet  chariot; 

Pray   let   me   enter   in, 
I  don't  want  to  stay  here  no  longer. 

I  done  been  to  heaven,  an'  I  done  been  tired, 
I  been  to  the  water,  an'  I  been  baptized — • 

I   don't  want  to  stay  here  no  longer. 
O,   down   to  the  water  I   was  led, 
My   soul    got    fed    with   heav'nly   bread — 

I   don't  want  to  stay  here  no  longer. 
Cho.— Oh,    swing   low,    sweet   chariot,    etc, 


i  ::!V,  ii 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  261 

I  had  a  little  book,  an'  I  read  it  through, 
I  got  my  Jesus  as  well  as  you; 

Oh,  I  got  a  mother  in  the  promised  land, 
I   hope  my  mother  will   feed   dem   lambs — 

I   don't  want  to  stay  here  no  longer. 
Cho. — Oh,    swing    low,    sweet    chariot,    etc. 

Oh,  some  go  to  church  for  to  holler  an'  shout, 
Before  six  months  they're  all  turned  out — 

I   don't  want  to  stay  here  no  longer. 
Oh,   some  go  to  church  for  to  laugh  an'  talk, 
But  cley  knows  nothin'  'bout  dat  Christian  walk — 

I   don't  want  to  stay  here  no  longer. 
Cho. — Oh,    swing    low,    sweet    chariot,    etc. 

Oh,  shout,  shout,  de  deb'l  is  about ; 
Oh,  shut  your  do'  an'  keep  him  out — 

I    don't   want  to   stay  here  no  longer. 
For  he  is  so  much-a  like-a  snaky  in  de  grass, 
Ef  you   don'   mind   he   will   get  you   at  las' — 

I   don't  want  to  stay  here  no  longer. 
Cho. — Oh,    swing    low,    sweet    chariot,    etc. 

SWING  LOW,  SWEET  CHARIOT. 

Oh,  de  good  ole  chariot  swing  so  low, 
Good    ole   chariot   swing   so   low, 
Oh,  de  good  ole  chariot  swing  so  low, 
I  don't  want  to  leave  me  behind. 

Chorus. — Oh,    swing    low,    sweet    chariot, 
Swing  low,   sweet   chariot, 
Swing  low,  sweet  chariot, 
I  don't  want  to  leave  me  behind. 

Oh,  de  good  ole  chariot  will  take  us  all  home, 
I   don't   want  to   leave  me  behind. 
Cho. — Oh,   swing  low,   sweet,   etc. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  263 

THE  ANGELS  DONE  CHANGED  MY  NAME. 

"I  went  to  the  hillside,  I  went  to  pray; 

I  know  the  angels  done  changed  my  name — 
Done  changed  my  name   for  the  coming   day; 
.    .  I  knew  the  angels  done  changed  my  name. 

"I  looked  at  my  hands,  my  hands  was  new, 
I  knew  the  angels  done  changed  my  name; 

I  looked  at  my   feet,  and  my  feet  was,  too — 
Thank  God  the  angels  done  changed  my  name." 

While  the  Negro  brought  out  from  bondage  no  literature  and  no 
theology,  yet  he  did  bring  with  him  the  plantation  songs  which  show 
in  Christian  song  that  the  doctrines  of  Christianity  were  held  by  these 
people  in  the  days  of  slavery.  \Ye  cannot  expect  to  find  the  same 
modes  of  expression  now  that  prevailed  among  them  while  in  slavery, 
but  that  they  held  to  the  fundamental  truths  of  religion  must  be 
recognized  by  all  who  study  these  songs.  That  they  believed  in  Christ 
as  a  Saviour  from  sin  and  in  the  Atonement  is  beautifully  illustrated 
in  the  refrain — 

"I've  been  redeemed!     I've  been  redeemed! 
Been  washed  in   de  blood  ob  de   lamb." 

The  Divinity  of  Christ  is  shown  in — 

"Jus'  stan'  right  still  and  steady  ye'self; 

I  know  that  my  Redeemer  lives. 
Oh,  jus'  let  me  tell  yo'  about  God  hisself ; 

I    know   that   my   Redeemer   lives." 

At  Tougaloo,  Mississippi,  they  sing  a  hymn  which  especially  em 
phasizes  the  personality  of  Satan,  which,  it  seems,  they  never  doubted — 

"Ole  Satan  he  wears  de  hypocrite  shoe ; 
If  yo'  don'  min'  he  slip  it  on  yo'." 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE  26$ 

Frederick  Douglass  says  that — 

"Run  to  Jesus,  shun  the  danger, 

I   don't  expect  to  stay  much   longer  here." 

sung  on  the  plantation  where  he  was  a  slave,  first  suggested  to  him  the 
thought  of  escaping  from  slavery,  or  as  he  put  it,  "Praying  with  his 
feet." 

While  their  lives  were  full  of  misery  on  account  of  the  oppression  of 
their  masters,  their  songs  do  not  show  anywhere  a  revengeful  spirit. 
They  looked  forward  with  confidence,  expecting  to  be  relieved  in  the 
land  of  the  redeemed. 

"Shine,  shine,  I'll  meet  you  in  that  morning. 
Oh,  my  soul's  goin'  to  shine,  to  shine; 
I'm  goin'  to  sit  down  to  a  welcome  table — 
Shine,  shine,  my  soul's  goin'  to  shine." 

THE  NEGRO  MEETS  TO  PRAY. 
Written  for  the  great  Negro  Congress  held  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  1902. 

In  days  of  old,  when  our  fond  mother  earth, 

Now  seamed  and  wrinkled  with  her  weight  of  years, 

Was  young  and  gay,  rejoicing  in  her  birth, 

Nor  gave  one  thought  of  future  cares  and  tears. 

When  prehistoric  man  roamed  hill  and   dell, 

And  gods   and  genii   ruled  the  world  below, 
Came  Odin,  great,  to  drink  of  Mimir's  well, 

That  he  all  wisdom  of  the  world  might  know. 

"WTho  drinks  of  Mimir's  well  must  leave  behind, 
His  gift  most  dear,  that  he  doth  highly  prize." 
The  gift  was  made,  and  he,  though  wise,  half  blind, 
Has  left  in  Mimir's  grasp  one  of  his  eyes. 

So  gods  of  wisdom  ask  of  men  to-day — 

Who  would  be  wise,  some  sacrifice  must  make; 
Some  good  give  up,  something  of  self  away, 

Ere  he  the  wisdom  of  this  world  can  take. 


OF   77/7-    XE(JRO  RACE  267 

So  this  black-child,  our  father's  image   fair, 

In  eb'ny  cut,  as  we,  too,  would  be  wise, 
Our  gift  hath  made,  our  pledges,  too,  are  there, 

Of  years  of  suffering,  toil  and  sacrifice. 

In  life's  hard  school  we've  conned  these  lessons  o'er 

Mid  sobs  and  tears  of  slavery's  galling  chain; 
Mid  darkening  days,  God  grant  may  come  no  more; 

Mid  opposition,  prejudice  and  pain. 

What    lessons    learned?      That    God    and    right   must   win, 

God  is  not  dead,  but  guards  the  weak  alway; 
The  stars  still  shine,  though  faith  and  hope  grow  dim, 

We  still  can  trust — the  Negro  meets  to  pray. 

Wre  seek  the  truth,  nor  wish  one  fault  to  hide; 

The  truth  alone  is  that  can  make  men  free, 
Expose  the  sores,  the  remedies  applied 

Will  soothe  and  heal,  and  give  true  liberty. 

Not  to  complain  of  burdens  hard  to  bear; 

To  fret  and  whine,  resolve  and  go  away; 
\\  e  meet  to  plan  how  we  can   do  our  share 

To  lift  the  load — the  Negro  meets  to  pray. 

We  know  full  well  of  all  the  gloomy  past ; 

Of  all  the  darkness  in  which  now  we  grope; 
Of  all  the  night  that  seems  will  never  pass; 

And  still  we  meet  with  bosoms  filled  with  hope. 

No  night  so  dark,  but  comes  some  cheering  ray, 
No  sky  so  drear,  but   some  bright   star  is  there; 

The  harbor  bells  still   ring  and   seem  to  say, 
"Just  look  this  way;  the  world  is  still  so  fair." 

We  needs  must  fear  the  foes  that  lie  within, 

That  spoil  our  youth.     With  hearts  both  brave  and  stout, 

Must  fight  'gainst  our  own  ignorance  and  sin, 
More  than  the  hate  and  prejudice  without. 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE  269 

Let  others  hate,  we'll  teach  our  children  love; 

Let  others  fight,  we'll  teach  endure  the  wrong; 
No  cowards  we,  our  teaching's  from  above, 

When  met  in  right  then  only  are  we  strong. 

We've  met  each  trust,  when  slave  as  well  as  free, 

Our  record's  made,  go  search  it,  ye  who  will. 
Oh,  Country  fair,  our  fathers  died   for  thee, 

From  Boston  field  to  blood-bought  San  Juan  Hill. 

Their  children  come;  no  special  favors  ask, 

In   Dixie  land,   the   fair  place   of  our  birth ; 
But  equal  chance  in  this   God-given  task, 

To  make  our  home  the  fairest  spot  on  earth. 

Yc  leaders  here,   no  nobler  work  than  thine 

Could  men  or  angels  ask.    We  vow  to-day 
To  lift  our  race,  by  lifting  as  we  climb; 

For  this  great  task  the  Negro  meets  to  pray. 

No  flaming  sword,  no  curses  loud  and  deep, 

We  bring  to-day,  though  we  have  suffered  long, 
Oh,   rouse,  ye  race,   from  calm  indifferent   sleep, 

And  face  life's  work — then  only  are  we  strong. 

God  hear  us  now,  and  guide  our  thoughts  aright, 

Give  inspiration   from  above  to-day; 
Plan  for  us  well,  and  help  us  see  the  light ; 

By  Thy  command,  Thy  children  meet  to  pray. 

And  from  our  knees  to  rise  to  bear  our  load, 
To  reach  the  unreached  Negro  youth  and  save ; 

To  spend  ourselves  for  Country,  race  and  God, 
Each  in  his  field  with  hearts  both  stout  and  brave. 

So  soon  for  aye  the  lights  of  earth  are  o'er, 

The  gloom  be  past,  the  toil  and  conflict  done ; 
And  angels'  voices  sing  on  yonder  shore, 

For  war-scarred  veterans,  God'?  sxveet  welcome  home, 

—•David  Webster 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


OL'  MISTIS. 

Oh,   de  times  is   fas'  a-changin', 

Ez  de  years  ar'  rollin'  on, 
An'  de  days  seem  mighty  lonesum', 

Sense  de  good  ol'  times  is  gon', 
While  I'm  'jo}?cin'  in  my  freedum, 

Nor  wish   fur  slab'ry  days, 
Yit  it  warms  my  heart  to  'member 

Sum  good  ol'-fashun  ways. 

De  pledjur  ub   de   harves' 

De  huntin'  ul)  de  coon, 
'Weh   down   in   de  low  groun', 

By  de   shinin'   ub  de  moon ; 
De  dancin'  in  de  cabin — 

An'  didn't  we  hah  de  fun, 
While    de   banjer   wuz   a-twangin', 

When  de  daily  wuck  wuz  don'? 

Ub  all  de  plezzun  mem'riz, 

Dar's  one  dat  fills  my  heart, 
'Tiz   de   thought   ub    dear   ol'    Mistis, 

An'  'twill  nebber   frum   me  part. 
No  matter   what   de  trubble 

De  Lord  uz  pleased  to  sen', 
We  had  jes'  to  tell  ol'  Mistis, 

She  would  alwa's  be  a  fren'. 

Ef  de  oberseer  'buze  us, 

An'  frum  de  lash  we'd  run, 
An'  weery,   col',   an'   starvin/ 

Afeard  to  kum  back  horn', 
Jes'  git  word  to  ol'  Mistis, 

She'd  smoov  de  trubble  o'er, 
An'  back  we'd  kum   a   sneakin', 

An'  hear  ub  it  no  mo'. 


271 


8 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  273 

When  sickness,  kheer  an'  sorrow 

Gib  nights  ub  akin'  pain, 
An'  tears   frum  werry  eyelids 

Kum  pou'in'  down  like  rain; 
Racked  wid  pains  an'  scotched  wid  febers, 

\Yid  lim's  a-growin'  col', 
She  had  lin'ments   fur  de  body, 

An'   de   Bible    fur   de   soul. 

An'  when  de  'partin'  speerit 

Would  fly  to  yuther  lan's, 
She'd   gently   clos   'de   eyelids 

Wid  tender,   reb'rent  han's, 
An'  wid  words  ub  consolation 

Would  pint  de  heart  abov', 
To  whar  dar  is  no  shadders — 

De   heb'ny   Ian'    ub   lov'. 

When  de  ebenin'  sun  wuz  settin', 

On   a   Sunday   afternoon, 
We'd  gether   in   de  great  house, 

An'  jine  her  in   a  chime; 
Den'  she'd  read  de  fam'ly  Bible, 

An'   lif  her  soul  in   prayhr, 
Tell   I   eenmos'   see  de  angels, 

An'  'majin   I   wuz  dar. 

All  T  knows  erbout  de  'lijun, 

I  wuz  teeched  besize  her  knee, 
All  erbout  de  blessid   Sabyur, 

Who  died  fur  eben  me ; 
An'   when    I    gits    to   glory — 

Tt  kan't  be  long,  I  kno'— - 
I   spects  to  meet  ol'   Mistis 

On  de  bright  an'  happy  sho'. 


bo 
<u 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  275 


DE  GHANA  CUP. 

Our  church  had  a  meeting,  where  the  brethien  gathered 

To  transact  the  business  they  had  for  the  Lord, 
To  turn  out  the  lambs  who  had  strayed  from  the  sheep-fold, 

And  to  take  in  repentants  in  accord  with  his  word. 
The  axe  had  been  falling  with  impartiality 

On    drunkards    and   policy-players   of   old, 
On   sisters  who'd   fallen    from   pathways  of   virtue, 

And  all  who  had  wandered  like  sheep  from  the  fold. 

At  last  came  a  sister  whose  skirts  were  all  muddy, 

With  drabbling  in  sin  all  the  days  of  yer  youth, 
Had   been    caught   and   excluded   'mid   tears   of    the   brethren, 

But  now  would  return  to  the  pathway  of  truth. 
"I  am  truly  repentant,  the  Lord  has  forgiven; 

Since  last  month,  when  excluded,   I've  prayed  night  and  day. 
Will  you,  brethren,  forgive  and  restore  me  to  fellowship, 

And  with  Jesus  to  guide,   I'll  no  more  go  astray?" 

''Bless  the  Lord !"  said  the  brethren ;  "Amen  !"  said  the  sisters, 

'Thank  God,  she's  returning;  I  move — take  her  in." 
The  motion  was  carried  with  great  hallelujahs 

For  the   sister  restored   from  the  by-ways  of   sin. 
Brother   Slaughter  waxed  warm,   and  spoke  of  the  prodigal, 

And  the  rejoicing  in  heaven  o'er  sinners  returned; 
"Ef  yo'  fall,  don't  yo'  woller,  yo'  kin  tell  a  true  Christyun, 

Fur  down  in  de  heart  speretu'l  oil  will  burn." 

"De  sister  am  good  ez  befo',  ef  not  better, 

Fur  dear  is  de  lam's  when  returned  to  de  fol', 
Ef  yuz  gwine  ter  sin,  jes'  be  sho'  yo'  don't  woller, 

An'  yo'  sho'  ub  de  glory  ez  a  pi  Jin  his  hole." 
Up  spoke  Brother  Van  :  "My  brudder,  hoi'  on,  dar ! 

Youz  ressin  de  skripshur,  an'  leadin'  us  wrong. 
'Taint  better  to  wander  den  keep  de  straight  pafway, 

An*  de  Lord  lubs  de  young  lam's  cjat  keep  right  along/' 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  277 

"I  once  had  a  chana  cup  I  sot  right  much  sto'  by, 

One  day  bein'  keerless,   I   drapped  on  de  flo'. 
I   patched  it   wid  glu',   sah,   an'   do'   it  held   water, 

//  nebber  did  ring  like  it  did  befo'. 
Yo'  may  dribe  in  a  nail  right  in  dis  here  pos'  here, 

Den   draw   out    de   nail,    but   de   hole   is  still   dar; 
Yo'  may  bu'n  fhar  arm,  an'  heal  up  de  bu'n,  sah, 

But  de  schar  gwy  tell  on  you  wharebber  you  ar'." 

— Daniel  Webster  Davis. 

MY    CHILDHOOD    HAPPY    DAYS. 

Many  poets,  great  and  gifted,  whom  the  Muse's  touch  has  blessed, 
Have    sung   in    rhythmic   measure,    at   the    spirit's   high   behest. 
Of  the   days  of  childish  glory,    free   from   sorrow .  and   from   pain, 
When  all  was  joy  and  pleasure — and  wished  them  back  again; 
But,  somehow,  when  my  mind  turns  back  to  sing  in  joyous  lays, 
I  remember  great* discomforts  in  my  childhood's  happy  days. 

Why,  my  earliest  recollections  are  of  pains  and  colics  sore, 

With  the  meanest  kinds   of  medicines  the   grown    folks   down  would 

pour — 

Ipecac   and   paregoric — and   though    I    hard   would   kick, 
They  still  would  dose  and  physic,  "Cause  the  baby  must  be  sick." 
When  1  think  of  this,  how  can  I  sing  a  song  in  joyous  lays, 
And  speak  in  tones  of  rapture  of  my  childhood's  happy  days? 

Off  to  school  I  then  was  started,  and  the  simple  rule  of  three 

Was  as  hard  as  now  quadratics  or  goemetry's  to  me. 

And  then  the  awful  thrashings  with  a  paddle  at  the  school, 

And  again  at  home  with  switches  if  I  broke  the  simplest  rule. 

Oh  !  my  life  was  one  vast  torment — so,  of  course,  I'm  bound  to  praise 

The  time  that  poets  nickname  "our  childhood's  happy  days." 

On  a  cold  December  morning,  when  lying  snug  in  bed, 

I  heard  the  sound,  "You,  Webster!"  and  I  wished  that  I  was  dead. 

I  knew  I  had  the  fires  to  make,  bring  water,  and  cut  wood; 

And  then,  perhaps,  I  might  have  chance  to  get  a  bit  of  food, 

When  on  to  school  I  trotted.     These  were  the  pleasant  ways 

In  which  I  spent  that  "festive  time," — my  childhood's  happy  days. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  279 

Father's  breeches,  out  to  fit  me,  was,  of  course,  the  proper  thing; 
And  nowhere  did  they  touch  me ;  my  one  "gallus"  was  a  string ; 
I  couldn't  tell  the  front  from  back  part;  and  my  coat  of  navy  blue 
So  variously  was  mended,  it  would  match  the  rainbow's  hue. 
'TwiU  do  all  right  for  rich  white  boys  to  sing  these  merry  lays, 
But  the  average  little  "Jap"  fared  tough  in  childhood's  happy  days. 

I  had  a  place  back  of  my  head  the  comb  could  never  touch — 
I'd  jump  three  feet  when  tested.     At  last  1   cried  so  much, 
Mother  said  that  she  would  cut  it.     Oh  fate !  to  see  me  then. 
My  head  was  picked  by  dull  shears,  as  if  some  turkey  hen 
Had  gotten  in  her  cruel  work;  and  the  boys  with  jolly  ways 
Hallo'ed  "buzzard!"  when  they  saw  me,  "in  childhood's  happy  days." 

\ 
In  the  evening,  holding  horses,  selling  papers — "Evening  News!" 

To  earn  an  honest  penny  for  the  folks  at  home  to  use. 

Vet,  of  course,  T  had  my  pleasures — stealing  sugar,  playing  ball, — 

But  I  cannot  go  in  raptures  o'er  that  season,  after  all. 

And   we   repeat   our    childhood,    and   all   life's   sterner   ways 

Are  mixed  with  rain  and  sunshine,  as  were  childhood's  happy  days. 

Still  I  find  that  life's  a  "hustle"  from  the  cradljp  to  the  tomb, 
With   little   beams   of   sunshine   to   lighten   up   the   gloom. 
If  we  can  help  a  brother,  and  mix  our  cares  with  joys, 
Old  age  will  be  as  happy  as  the  days  when  we  were  boys, 
Till  at  last  we  sing  in  rapture  heav'nly  songs  of  love  and  praise, 
When  our  bark  is  safely  anchored — there  to  spend  our  happiest  days 

— Daniel  Webster  Davis. 

DE  NIGGER'S  GOT  TO  GO. 

Dear    Liza,    I    is   bin    down-town 

To  Marster  Charley's  sto', 
An'  all  de  talk  dis  nigger  hear 

Is,  "Niggers  got  to  go." 
I  'fess  it  bodders  my  ol'  head, 

An'  I  would  lik'  to  kno', 
What  all  we  cullud  folks  is  doin', 

Dat  now  we'z  got  to  go? 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  281 

I  hear  dem  say  dat  long  ago 

To  ol'  Virginny's  sho', 
Dar  kum  a  ship  wid  cullucl  folks, 

Sum  twenty  odd  or  mo'; 
Dey  tells  me  dat  dey  hoed  de  corn, 

An'   wuz  good   wuckers,   sho', 
Dey  made  Virginny  like  de  rose — 

But  now  dey's  got  to  go. 

Uat,  when  ol'  Ginnel  Washin'ton 

Did  whip  dem  Red-koats  so, 
A  nigger  wiu   de   fus'   to   fall 

A-hghtin'  ub  de  fo' ; 
Dat,    in    de    late    "impleasureness" 

Dey  watched  at  Mayster's  do', 
Proteckin'   ub   his   lubin    ones — 

But  now  (ley's  got  to  go. 

I  fess  I  lubs  dis  dear  ol'  place — 

'Twuz  here  we  beried  Jo' ; 
An'  little  Liza  married  off, 

So  menny  years  ago. 
An'  now  wez-  feeble,  an'  our  lim's 

A-getting  mighty  slo'. 
We'd  hate   to   lebe   de   dear   ol'   place — 

But  den,  wez  got  to  go. 

I    don't    kno'    much    'bout    politicks, 

An'   all   dem  things,   yo'  kno', 
But  de  las  'leckshun  T  jes'  vote 

Ez  de  whi'  folks  tol'  me  to; 
Dey  tole  me   vote   fur   Dimikrats, 

An'  'twould  be  better,  'do' 
Sense  now  dey  don'  de  leckshun  win, 

Dey   sez   we'z   got   to   go. 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  283 

Dey  sez  de  whi'  folks  mad  'long  us, 

'Cause  we  kummin'  up,  yo'  kno'; 
An'  sum  un  us  is  gittin  rich, 

Wid  do'-bells  on  de  do'; 
An'  got  sum  lawyers,  doctors,  too, 

An'  men  like  dat,  fur  sho'. 
But  den  it  kan't  be  jes'  fur  dis 

Dat  we  all  got  to  go. 

De  Lord  he  made  dis  lubly  ian' 

Fur  white  and  black  folks  too, 
An'  gin  each  man  his  roe  to  ten' — 

Den  what  we  gvvine  to  do? 
We  'habes  ouselbes  an'  'specks  dc  laws, 

But   dey's  peckin   mo'    an'   mo'. 
We  ain't  don  nuffin  't  all  to  dem, 

Den  huccum  we  mils'  go? 

Fur  ebry  nashun  on  de  glob' 

Dis  seems  to  be   a  horn' ; 
Dey  welkums  dem  wid  open  arms, 

No   matter   whar    dey    frum; 
But  we,  who  here  wuz  bred  an'  borhn, 

Don't  seem  to  hab  no  show ; 
We  ho'ped  to  mek  it  what  it  is, 

But   still   we'z   got   to   go. 

It  'pears  to  me,  my  Liza,  dear, 

We'z  got  a  right  to  stay, 
An'  not  a  man  on  dis  broad  urf 

Gwine  dribe  dis  nigger  'way. 
But  why  kan't  whi'   folks  lef  us  Ion', 

An'  weed  dar  side  de  ro' ; 
An'  what  dey  all  time  talkin'  'bout — 

"De  nigger's  got  to  go?" 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  285 

"  'Rastus,"  Liza  sed,  "trus'  in  God, 

He'll  fix  things  here  belo', 
He  don't  hate  us  bekase  we'z  black — 

tie   made   us   all,   yo'  kno' ; 
He  lubs  us,  ef  we'z  cullud  folks, 

Ef  de  hart  is  white  an'  pure, 
An'  'cepin'  de  Lord  sez — "Forward,  march!" 

We'z   not    a-gwine   to   go." 

— Daniel  Webster  Davis. 

AUNT  CHLOE'S  LULLABY. 

Hesh  !  my  baby ;  stop  yer  fuss, 
1's   'fraid  you   gittin'    wuss   an'   wuss; 
Doncher  cry,   an'   I   gvvy  mek' 
Mammy's  baby  'lasses   cake. 
Hesh  !  my  lubly  baby  chil', 
I    gwy    rock    yo'    all    de    whil' ; 
Muffin  gwyne  to  ketch  yo'  now, 
'Cause  yer  mammy's  watchin  'yo'. 
Sleep !   my   little  baby,   sleep ! 
Mammy's    baby,    Lou ! 

How  dem  dogs  do  bark  to-night ! 
Better  shet  yer  eyes  up  tight ; 
Dey  kan't  hab  dis  baby  dear ; 
Mammy's  watchin',   doncher  fear. 
Hear  dem  owls  a-hootin'  so? 
Dey  shan't  ketch  dis  baby,  do'. 
Jes'  like  mistis  lub  her  chil', 
Mammy  lubs  dis  baby  too. 
Sleep !  my  little  baby,  sleep ! 
Mammy's    baby,    Lou ! 

Mammy's  baby,  black  an'  sweet, 
Jes'   like   candy   dat   you   eat, 
Mammy  lay  yo'  in  dis  bed. 
While  she  mek  de  whi'  folks  bread, 
Angels  (ley  gwy  look  belpw, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  287 

Watch  dis  baby   sleepin'   so. 
Go   to   sleep,   my   bunny,    now, 
Ain't  yer  mammy  watchin'  you'? 
Sleep  !   my  little  baby,   sleep ! 
Mammy's    baby,    Lou ! 

— Daniel   Webster  Davis. 

WHEN  DE  CO'N  PONE'S  HOT. 

Dey  is  times  in  life  when   Nature 

Seems   to    slip   a    cog    an'    go, 
Jes'    a-rattlin'    down    creation, 

Lak  an  ocean's  overflow; 
When  de  worl'  jes'  stahts  a-spinnin' 

Lak   a   picaninny's   top, 
An'  yo'  cup  o'  joy  is  brimmin' 

'Twell  it  seems  about  to  slop, 
An'  you  feel  jes'  lak  a  racah 

Dat  is  trainin'  fu'  to  trot — 
When  yo'  mammy  ses  de  blessin' 

An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 

When  you  set  down  at  de  table, 

Kin'  o'  weary  lak  an'  sad, 
And  you'se  jes  a  -little  tiahed, 

An'  purhaps  a  little  mad ; 
How  yo'  gloom  tu'ns  into  gladness, 

How  yo'  joy  drives  out  de  doubt, 
When    de    oven    do'    is    opened 

An'  de  smell  comes  po'in'  out  ! 
Why,  de  'lectric  light  o'  Heaven 

Seems  to  settle  on  de  spot, 
When  yo'  mammy  ses  de  blessin' 

An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 

When    de    cabbage   pot    is    steamin' 

An'  de  bacon's  good  an'   fat, 
When  de  chittlin's  is  a-sputter'n' 

So's  to  show  yo'  whah  dey's  at ; 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  289 

Take  away  yo'  sody  biscuit, 

Take  away  yo'  cake  and  pie, 
Fu'  de  glory  time  is  comin', 

An'  it's  'proachin'  very  nigh, 
An'  yo'  want  to  jump   an'  hollah, 

Do'  you  know  you'd  bettah  not, 
When  yo'  mammy  ses  de  blessin' 

An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 

I  have  heerd  o'  lots  o'  sermons, 

An'  I've  heerd  o'  lots  o'  prayers ; 
An'   I've  listened  to   some   singin' 

Dat  has  tuk  me  up  de  stairs 
Qf  de  Glory  Lan',  an'  sent  me 

Jes'  below  de  Mahster's  th'one, 
An'  have  lef  my  haht  a-singin' 

In  a  happy  aftah  tone; 
But  dem  wu's  so  sweetly  murmured 

Seem  to  tech  de  softes'  spot, 
When  my  mammy  ses  de  blessin' 

An'  de  co'n  pone's  hot. 

— Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar. 


A  LULLABY. 

Bedtime's  come  fu'  little  boys, 

Po'    little   lamb. 
Too  tiahed  out  to  make  a  noise, 

Po'   little   lamb. 

You  gwine  t'  have  to-morrer  sho'? 
Yes,  you  tole  me  dat  befo', 
Don't  you  fool  me,  chile,  no  mo', 

Po'   little   lamb. 


THE  INCUBATOR  AND  BREAD  RAISER,  by  G.  F.  Carr,  is  an 
arrangement  whereby  the  same  machine  may  be  used  as  an  Incubator 
on  one  side  and  a  Bread  Raiser  on  the  other.  As  long  as  the  little 
chicks  and  the  dough  are  not  in  the  same  compartment  at  the  same 
time  it  would  appear  that  the  scheme  ought  to  work  well. 
[290] 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 

You  been  bad  de  livelong  clay, 

Po'   little    lamb. 
Th'owin'  stones  an'  runnin'  'way, 

Po'   little   lamb. 
My,  but  you's  a-runnin'  wild ! 
Look   jes'   lak    some   po'    folks'    chile; 
Mam  gwine   whup   you   after  while, 

Po'   little   lamb. 

Come  hyeah  !  you  mos'  tiahed  to  def, 

Po'   little   lamb. 
Played  yo'sel'  clean  out  o'  bref, 

Po'    little   lamb. 

See  dem  han's  now — sich  a  sight! 
Would  you  evah  b'lieve  dey's  white? 
Stan'  still  'twell  I  wash  dem  right, 

Po'    little   lamb. 

Jes'  cain't  hoi'  yo'  haid  up  straight, 

Po'    little    lamb. 
Hadn't  oughter  played  so  late 

Po'   little    lamb. 

Mammy  do'  know  whut  she'd  do, 
Ef  de  chillun's  all  lak  you; 
You's  a  caution  now,  fu'  true, 

Po'   little   lamb. 


Lay  yo'  haid  down  in  my  lap, 

Po'    little    lamb. 
Y'ought  to  have  a  right  good  slap, 

Po'   little   lamb. 

You  been  runnin'  roun*  a  heap, 
Shet  dem  eyes  an'  don't  you  peep — 
Dah  now,  dah  now,  go  to  sleep — 

Po'  little  lamb. 

— Paul    Lawrence    Dunbar. 


29I 


OP  THE  NEGRO  RACE  293 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
REV.  JOHN  JASPER 

We  feel  that  this  work  would  not  be.  complete  without  in 
viting  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  Rev.  John  Jasper, 
who,  though  not  a  man  of  learning,  deserves  to  rank  among 
the  world's  great  men — great  because  he  was  himself  in  all  his 
dealings  with  humanity,  great  because  he  was  original,  great 
because  he  promulgated  a  doctrine,  which  not  only  startled 
the  country  but  baffled  the  wisdom  of  learned  astronomers. 
He  achieved  great  notoriety  and  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  world  on  account  of  his  sermon  entitled  "The  Sun  Do 
Move." 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  eulogize  upon  his  life,  but  only  to 
mention  a  few  facts,  which  we  think  will  especially  interest 
all.  Indeed  his  whole  career  is  a  study ;  it  was  the  longing 
of  a  sincere  and  persevering  soul,  encased  in  ignorance  and 
superstition,  surrounded  with  the  hardships  of  slavery ;  to 
attain  what  he  believed  was  his  mission. 

John  Jasper  was  born  a  slave  July  4,  1812,  in  Fluvanna 
county,  Virginia.  His  father,  Phillip,  was  a  noted  preacher 
among  the  slaves,  but  died  two  months  before  young  Jas 
per's  birth.  His  mother,  Tina,  was  a  woman  of  sterling 
qualities  and  ever  instilled  into  her  son  those  principles  which 
assuredly  make  him  the  exemplar  of  Christian  fortitude,  noble 
thought  and  humble  endeavor. 

His  entire  schooling  consisted  of  what  could  be  gained  from 
the  New  York  speller  taught  him  bv  a  fellow-slave  and  room 
mate  at  midnight.  Jasper  often  referred  to  this  fact,  in  after 
life,  with  due  reverence.  Until  1825,  Jasper  passed  his  life 


294 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


upon  the  farm  of  a  Mr.  Peachy.  He  was  trusted  and  be 
loved  and  most  of  his  time  was  spent  in  work  around  the 
''great  house,"  as  it  was  then  called.  From  1825  to  1839, 
he  was  hired  out  to  work  upon  various  plantations,  spend 
ing  the  greater  part  of  this  time  upon  farms  near  Richmond. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  OF  LYNCH  BURG 


It  was  in  the  Capitol  Square  of  the  City  of  Richmond,  on 
July  4,  1839,  that  Mr.  Jasper  gave  his  heart  to  Christ  and 
soon  thereafter  united  with  the  old  African  Baptist  Church. 
The  day  of  Mr.  Jasper's  confession  is  the  day  that  he  began 
public  preaching.  From  this  time  until  his  death  the  greater 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE 


295 


part  of  his  life  he  passed  upon  the  rostrum,  proclaiming  the 
Gospel  with  remarkable  influence. 

He  pastored  in  Petersburg  a  few  years  after  his  advent 
into  the  ministry.  At  this  time  no  colored  man  was  allowed 
to  pastor  a  church.  A  white  preacher  could  be  the  pastor 
in  name,  who  should  be  present  at  all  services,  but  a  colored 
preacher  could  carry  on  the  entire  service.  A  colored  man 
could  not  be  ordained,  but  it  mattered  not  whether  the  white 
brother  was  ordained.  \Yhile  Mr.  Jasper  was  preaching 
in  the  Third  Baptist  Church  in  Petersburg,  people  from  all 
other  churches  flocked  to  hear  him. 

Mr.  Jasper  made  a  specialty  of  funeral  sermons,  and  was 
often  invited  to  different  parts  of  the  State  of  Virginia  to 
preach  the  funeral  of  slaves. 

On  the  first  Sunday  in  September,  1867,  Mr.  Jasper  organ 
ized  the  Sixth  Mount  Zion  Baptist  Church,  with  nine  mem 
bers,  on  Brown's  Island,  in  the  James  River,  just  opposite  the 
city,  in  a  little  old  wooden  shanty,  which  had  been  used  by 
the  government  for  a  stable.  The  membership  and  congre 
gation  of  this  church  increased  so  rapidly  in  one  year's  time 
that  the  old  stable  was  not  large  enough  to  accommodate 
them  so  they  left  the  island,  and  came  over  to  the  city 
and  rented  an  old  carpenter  shop  on  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Cary  streets,  in  which  they  held  their  meetings  for  two 
years.  When  the  membership  and  congregation  had  gotten 
too  large  for  the  old  shop  they  were  compelled  to  look  out 
for  another  and  more  spacious  house  for  their  worship.  Dur 
ing  this  time  they  heard  that  there  was  a  little  brick  church, 
on  the  corner  of  Duval  and  St.  John's  streets,  for  sale,  and 
could  be  bought  for  a  reasonable  sum.  They  immediately 
took  advantage  of  the  opportunity,  made  the  necessary  ar- 


296 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


rangements,  and  bought  the  church  for  the  sum  of  two  thou 
sand  and  twenty-five  dollars. 

The  following,   from  the   Richmond  Times-Dispatch,   will 
give  you  some  idea  of  the  esteem  in  which  Mr.  Jasper  was 


MADE    BY    STUDENTS    OF    PORTSMOUTH     PUBLIC    SCHOOLS 

held.     Space  will  not  permit  us  to  print  the  many  invitations, 
comments  and  congratulations  that  he  has  received. 

"It  is  a  sad  coincidence  that  the  destruction  of  the  Jefferson 
Hotel  and  the  death  of  the  Rev.  John  Jasper  should  have 
fallen  upon  the  same  day.  John  Jasper  was  a  Richmond  Insti- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  297 

tution  as  surely  so  as  was  Major  Ginter's  fine  hotel.  He 
was  a  national  character,  and  he  and  his  philosophy  were 
known  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other.  Some  peo 
ple  have  the  impression  that  John  Jasper  was  famous  simply 
because  he  flew  in  the  face  of  the  scientists  and  declared 
that  the  sun  moved.  In  one  sense,  that  is  true,  but  it  is  also 
true  that  his  fame  was  due,  in  great  measure,  to  a  strong 
personality,  to  a  deep,  earnest  conviction,  as  well  as  a  devout 
Christian  character.  Some  preachers  might  have  made  this 
assertion  about  the  sun's  motion  without  having  attracted 
any  special  attention.  The  people  would  have  laughed  over 
it,  and  the  incident  would  have  passed  by  as  a  summer  breeze. 
But  John  Jasper  made  an  impression  upon  his  generation,  be 
cause  he  was  sincerely  and  deeply  in  earnest  in  all  that  he 
said.  No  man  could  talk  with  him  in  private,  or  listen  to 
him  from  the  pulpit,  without  being  thoroughly  convinced  of 
that  fact.  His  implicit  trust  in  the  Bible  and  everything  in  it 
was  beautiful  and  impressive.  He  had  no  other  lamp  by 
which  his  feet  were  guided.  He  had  no  other  science,  no 
other  philosophy.  He  took  the  Bible  in  its  literal  signifi 
cance;  he  accepted  it  as  the  inspired  word  of  God;  he  trusted 
it  with  all  his  heart  and  soul  and  mind ;  lie  believed  nothing 
that  was  in  conflict  with  the  teachings  of  the  Bible — scien 
tists  and  philosophers  and  theologians  to  the  contrary  notwith 
standing. 

!  'They  tried  to  make  it  appear,'  he  said,  in  the  last  talk 
we  had  with  him  on  the  subject,  'that  John  Jasper  was  a 
fool  and  a  liar  when  he  said  that  the  sun  moved.  I  paid  no 
attention  to  it  at  first,  because  I  did  not  believe  that  the 
so-called  scientists  were  in  earnest.  I  did  not  think  that  there 
was  any  man  in  the  world  fool  enough  to  believe  that  the  sun 
did  not  move,  for  everybody  had  seen  it  move.  But  when 


298 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


I  found  that  these  so-called  scientists  were  in  earnest  I  took 
down  my  old  Bible  and  proved  that  they,  and  not  John  Jas 
per,  were  the  fools  and  the  liars.'  And  there  was  no  more 
doubt  in  his  mind  on  that  subject  than  there  was  of  his 
existence.  John  Jasper  had  the  faith  that  removed  inoun- 


PORTSMOUTII,  VA.,   PUBLIC  SCHOOL  EXHIBIT 

tains.  He  knew  the  literal  Bible  as  well  as  Bible  scholars  did. 
He  did  not  understand  it  from  the  scientific  point  of  view, 
but  he  knew  its  teachings  and  understood  its  spirit,  and  he 
believed  in  it.  He  accepted  it  as  the  true  word  of  God, 
and  he  preached  it  with  unction  and  with  power. 

''John  Jasper  became   famous  by  accident,  but  he  was  a 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


299 


most  interesting  man  apart  from  his  solar  theory.  He  was 
a  man  of  deep  convictions,  a  man  with  a  purpose  in  life,  a 
man  who  earnestly  desired  to  save  souls  for  heaven.  He  fol 
lowed  his  divine  calling  with  faithfulness,  with  a  determina 
tion,  as  far  as  he  could,  to  make  the  ways  of  his  God  known 
unto  men,  His  saving  health  among  all  nations.  And  the 
Lord  poured  upon  His  servant,  Jasper,  'the  continual  dew  of 
His  blessing.' J: 

The  white  people,  including  philosophers  and  scientists, 
came  from  afar  and  near  to  hear  him  preach  his  wonderful 
sermon  on  the  sun,  which  is  as  follows: 

'THE  SUN  Do  MOVE" 

In  presenting  John  Jasper's  celebrated  sermon  on  "De  Sun 
Do  Move,"  I  beg  to  introduce  it  with  several  explanatory 
words.  As  intimated  in  a  former  chapter  it  is  of  a  dual  char 
acter.  It  includes  an  extended  discussion,  after  his  peculiar 
fashion,  of  the  text,  "The  Lord  God  is  a  man  of  war;  the 
Lord  is  His  name."  Much  that  he  said  in  that  part  of  his 
sermon  is  omitted,  only  so  much  being  retained  as  indicates 
his  view  of  the  rotation  of  the  sun.  It  was  really  when  he 
came  into  this  part  of  his  sermon  that  he  showed  to  such 
great  advantage,  even  though  so  manifestly  in  error  as  to 
the  position  which  he  tried  so  manfully  to  antagonize.  It 
was  of  that  combative  type  of  public  speech  which  always 
put  him  before  the  people  at  his  best.  I  never  heard  this  ser 
mon  but  once,  but  I  have  been  amply  aided  in  reproducing 
it  by  an  elaborate  and  altogether  friendly  report  of  the  ser 
mon  published  at  the  time  by  The  Richmond  Dispatch.  Jas 
per  opened  his  discourse  with  a  tender  reminiscence  and  quite 
an  ingenious  exordium. 

"Low  me  ter  say,"  he  spoke  with  an  outward  composure 


300 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


which  revealed  an  inward  but  mastered  swell  of  emotion,  "dat 
when  I  wuz  a  young  man  and  a  slave,  I  knowed  nuthin' 
wuth  talkin'  'bout  consarnin'  books.  Dey  wuz  sealed  mys 
teries  ter  me,  but  I  tell  yer  I  longed  ter  break  de  seal.  I 
thusted  fer  de  bread  uv  learnin'.  When  I  seen  books  I  ached 
ter  git  in  ter  urn,  fur  I  knowed  dat  dey  had  de  stuff  fer  me, 


an'  1  wanted  ter  taste  dere  contents,  but  most  of  de  time  dey 
wuz  bar'd  aginst  me. 

"P>y  de  mursy  of  de  Lord  a  thing  happened.  I  got  er  room- 
feller — he  wuz  a  slave,  too,  an'  he  had  learn'd  ter  read.  In 
de  dead  uv  de  night  he  giv  me  lessons  outen  de  New  York 
Spellin'  book.  It  wuz  hard  pullin',  I  tell  yer ;  harder  on  him, 
fur  he  know'd  jes'  a  leetle,  an'  it  made  him  sweat  ter  try 
ter  beat  sumthin'  inter  my  hard  haid.  It  wuz  wuss  wid  me. 
Up  de  hill  ev'ry  step,  but  when  I  got  de  light  uv  de  less'n 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE 


301 


into  my  noodle  I  farly  shouted,  but  I  kno'd  I  wuz  not  a 
scholur.  De  consequens  wuz  I  crep  'long  mighty  tejus,  git- 
tin'  a  crum  here  an'  dar  until  I  cud  read  de  Bible  by  skip- 
pin'  de  long  words,  tolerable  well.  Dat  wuz  de  start  uv  my 
eddicashun — dat  is,  wat  little  I  got.  I  mek  menshun  uv  dat 
young  man.  De  years  hev  fled  erway  sense  den,  but  I  ain't 
furgot  my  teachur,  an'  nevur  shall.  I  thank  mer  Lord  fur 
him,  an'  I  carries  his  mem'ry  in  my  heart. 

"  'Bout  seben  months  after  my  gittin'  ter  readin',  Gord 
cunverted  my  soul,  an'  I  reckin  'bout  de  fust  an'  main  thing 
dat  I  begged  de  Lord  ter  give  me  wuz  de  power  ter  und'stand 
His  "Word.  I  ain't  braggin',  an'  I  hates  self-praise,  but  I 
boun'  ter  speak  de  thankful  word.  I  b'lieves  in  mer  heart 
dat  mer  pra'r  ter  und'stand  de  Scripshur  wuz  heard.  Sence 
dat  time  I  ain't  keer'd  'bout  nuthin'  'cept  ter  study  an'  preach 
de  \Yord  uv  God. 

"Not,  my  bruthrin,  dat  I'z  de  fool  ter  think  I  knows  it  all. 
Oh,  mer  Father,  no !  Fur  f  rum  it.  I  don'  hardly  und'stand 
myse'f,  nor  ha'f  uv  de  things  roun'  me,  an'  dar  is  milyuns  uv 
things  in  de  Bible  too  deep  fur  Jasper,  an'  sum  uv  'em  too 
deep  fur  ev'rybody.  I  doan't  cerry  de  keys  ter  de  Lord's 
closet,  an'  He  ain't  tell  me  ter  peep  in,  an'  ef  I  did  I'm  so 
stupid  I  wouldn't  know  it  when  I  see  it.  No,  frens,  I  knows 
my  place  at  de  feet  uv  my  Marster,  an'  dar  I  stays. 

"But  I  kin  read  de  Bible  and  git  de  things  whar  lay  on 
de  top  uv  de  soil.  Out'n  de  Bible  I  knows  nuth'n  extry  'bout 
de  sun.  I  sees  'is  courses  as  he  rides  up  dar  so  gran'  an' 
mighty  in  de  sky,  but  dar  is  heaps  'bout  dat  flamin'  orb  dat 
is  too  much  fer  me.  I  know  dat  de  sun  shines  powerfly  an' 
po's  down  its  light  in  floods,  an'  yet  dat  is  nuthin'  compared 
wid  de  light  dat  flashes  in  my  min'  frum  de  pages  of  Cord's 
Book,  But  you  knows  all  dat,  I  knows  dat  de  sun 


302 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


oh,  how  it  did  burn  in  dem  July  days.  I  tell  yer  he  cooked 
de  skin  on  my  back  many  er  day  when  I  wuz  hoein'  in  de  corn 
feil'.  But  you  knows  all  dat,  an'  yet  dat  is  nuthin'  der  to 
de  divine  fire  dat  burns  in  der  souls  uv  God's  chil'n.  Can't 
yer  feel  it,  bruthrin? 


PUBLIC    SCHOOLS    EXHIBIT,    XENIA,    OHIO 

"But  'bout  de  courses  uv  de  sun,  I  have  got  dat.  I  hev  dun 
rang'd  thru  de  whole  blessed  Book  an'  scode  down  de  las 
'thing  de  Bible  has  ter  say  'bout  de  movements  uv  de  sun.  I 
got  all  dat  pat  an'  safe.  An'  lemme  say  dat  if  I  doan't  giv 
it  ter  you  straight,  if  I  gits  one  word  crooked  or  wrong,  you 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE 


303 


jes'  holler  out,  'Hoi'  on  dar,  Jasper,  yer  ain't  got  dat  straight,' 
an'  I'll  beg  pardon.  If  I  doan't  tell  de  truf,  march  up  on 
dese  steps  here  an'  tell  me  I'z  a  liar,  an'  I'll  take  it.  I  fears 
I  do  lie  sometimes — I'm  so  sinful,  I  find  it  hard  ter  do  right; 
but  my  Gord  doan't  lie  an'  He  ain't  put  no  lie  in  de  Book  uv 
eternal  truf,  an'  if  I  giv  you  wat  de  Bible  say,  den  I  boun'  ter 
tell  de  truf. 

"I  got  ter  take  yer  all  dis  arternoon  on  er  skershun  ter  a 
great  bat'l  feil'.  Mos'  folks  like  ter  see  fights — some  is 
mighty  fon'  er  gittin'  inter  lights,  an'  some  is  mighty  quick 
ter  run  down  de  back  alley  when  dar  is  a  bat'l  goin'  on, 
fer  de  right.  Dis  time  I'll  'scort  yer  ter  a  scene  whar  you 
shall  witness  a  curus  bat'l.  It  tuk  place  soon  arter  Isrel  got 
in  de  Promus  Lan'.  Yer  'member  de  people  uv  Gibyun  inak 
frens  wid  Cord's  people  when  dey  fust  entered  Canum  an' 
dey  wuz  monsus  smart  ter  do  it.  But,  jes'  de  same,  it  got  'em 
in  ter  an  orful  fuss.  De  cities  roun'  'bout  dar  flar'd  up  at 
dat,  an'  dey  all  jined  dere  forces  and  say  dey  gwine  ter  mop 
de  Gibyun  people  orf  uv  de  groun',  an'  dey  bunched  all  dar 
.armies  tergedder  an'  went  up  fer  ter  do  it.  \Yen  dey  kum 
up  so  bol'  an'  brave  de  Giby'nites  wuz  skeer'd  out'n  dere 
senses,  an'  dey  saunt  word  ter  Joshwer  dat  dey  wuz  in  troubl' 
an'  he  mus'  run  up  dar  an  git  'em  out.  Joshwer  had  de 
heart  uv  a  lion  an'  he  wuz  up  dar  'drekly.  Dey  had  an 
orful  fight,  sharp  an'  bitter,  but  yer  might  know  dat  Ginr'l 
Joshwer  wuz  not  up  dar  ter  git  whip't.  He  played  an'  he 
fought,  an'  de  hours  got  erway  too  peart  fer  him,  an'  so 
he  ask'd  de  Lord  ter  issue  a  speshul  ordur  dat  de  sun  hoi' 
up  erwhile  an'  dat  de  moon  furnish  plenty  uv  moonshine  down 
on  de  lowes'  part  uv  de  nghtin'  groun's.  As  a  fac',  Josh 
wer  wuz  so  drunk  wid  de  bat'l,  so  thursty  fer  de  blood  uv 
de  en'mies  uv  de  Lord,  an'  so  wild  wid  de  vict'ry  dat  he  tell 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


de  sun  ter  stan'  still  tel  he  cud  finish  his  job.  Wat  did  de 
sun  do?  Did  he  glar  down  in  ri'ry  wrath  an'  say,  'What 
you  talkin'  'bout  my  stoppin'  f  er,  Joshwer ;  I  ain't  navur 
started  yit.  Bin  here  all  de  time,  an'  it  wud  smash  up  ev'ry- 
thing  if  I  wuz  ter  start'?  Naw,  he  ain't  say  dat.  But  wat 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS,  LYNCHBURG,  VA.    Decoration  work  by  pupils. 

de  Bible  say?  Dat's  wat  I  ax  ter  know.  It  say  dat  it  wuz  at 
de  voice  uv  Joshwer  dat  it  stopped.  I  doan't  say  it  stopt; 
tain't  fer  Jasper  ter  say  dat,  but  de  Bible,  de  Book  uv  Gord, 
say  so.  But  I  say  dis ;  nuthin'  kin  stop  untel  it  hez  first 
started.  So  I  knows  wat  I'm  talkin'  'bout.  De  sun  wuz 
travlin'  long  dar  thru  de  sky  wen  de  order  come.  He  hitched 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  305 

his  red  ponies  and  made  quite  a  call  on  de  Ian'  uv  Gibyun. 
He  purch  up  dar  in  de  skies  jes'  as  frenly  as  a  naibur  whar 
comes  ter  borrer  sumthin',  an'  he  stan'  up  dar  an'  he  look 
lak  he  enjoyed  de  way  Joshwer  waxes  dem  wicked  armies. 
An'  de  moon,  she  wait  down  in  de  low  groun's  dar,  an'  pours 
out  her  light  and  look  jes'  as  ca'm  an'  happy  as  if  she  wuz 
waitin'  fer  'scort.  Dey  nevtir  budg'd,  neither  uv  'em,  long 
as  de  Lord's  army  needed  er  light  to  kerry  on  de  bat'l. 

"I  doan't  read  when  it  wuz  dat  Joshwer  hitch  up  an'  drove 
on,  but  I  'spose  it  wuz  when  de  sun  didn't  stay  dar  all  de 
time.  It  stopt  fur  bizniz,  an'  went  on  when  it  got  thru.  Dis 
is  'bout  all  dat  I  has  ter  do  wid  clis  perticl'r  case.  I  dun 
show'd  yer  dat  dis  part  uv  de  Lord's  word  teaches  yer  dat  de 
sun  stopt,  which  show  dat  he  wuz  moving,  befo'  dat,  an'  dat 
he  went  on  art'rwards.  I  toll  yer  dat  I  wud  prove  dis  an' 
I's  dun  it,  an'  I  derfies  ennybody  to  say  dat  my  p'int  ain't 
made. 

"I  tol'  yer  in  de  fust  part  uv  dis  discose  dat  de  Lord  Gord 
is  a  man  uv  war.  I  'spec  by  now  yer  begin  ter  see  it  is  so. 
Doan't  yer  admit  it  ?  When  de  Lord  cum  ter  see  Joshwer 
in  de  day  uv  his  feers  an'  warfar,  an'  actu'ly  mek  de  sun 
stop  stone  still  in  de  heavens,  so  de  fight  kin  rage  on  tel  all 
de  foes  is  slain,  yer  bleeged  ter  und'rstan'  dat  de  Gord  uv 
peace  is  also  de  man  uv  war.  He  kin  use  bofe  peace  an' 
war  ter  hep  de  reichus,  an'  ter  scattur  de  host  uv  de  ailyuns. 
A  man  talked  ter  me  las'  week  'bout  de  laws  uv  nature,  an' 
say  dey  carn't  poss'bly  be  upsot,  an'  I  had  ter  laugh  right 
in  his  face.  As  if  de  laws  uv  ennythin'  wuz  greater  dan  my 
Gord  is  great;  He  rules  in  de  heavens,  in  de  earth,  an'  doun 
und'r  de  groun'.  He  is  great,  an'  greatly  ter  be  praised.  Let 
all  de  people  bow  doun  an'  worship  befo'  Him! 

"But  let  us  git  erlong,  for  dar  is  quite  a  big  lot  mo'  comin' 


3o6  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

on.  Let  us  take  nex'  de  case  of  Hezekier.  He  wuz  one  of 
dem  kings  of  Juder — er  mighty  sorry  lot  I  mus'  say  dem 
kings  wuz,  fur  de  mos'  part.  I  inclines  ter  think  Hezekier 
wuz  'bout  de  highes'  in  de  gin'ral  avrig,  an'  he  \var  no  mighty 


PUBLIC    INDUSTRIAL   SCHOOLS,    SALEM,    MD. 

man  hisse'f  \Yell,  Hezekier  he  got  sick.  I  dar  say  dat  a 
king  when  he  gits  his  crown  an'  fin'ry  off,  an'  when  he  is 
posterated  wid  mortal  sickness,  he  gits  'bout  es  common 
lookin'  an'  grunts  an'  rolls,  an'  is  'bout  es  skeery  as  de  res' 
of  us  po'  mortals.  We  know  dat  Hezekier  wuz  in  er  low 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  307 

state  uv  min' ;  full  uv  fears,  an'  in  a  tur'ble  trub'le.  De  fac' 
is,  de  Lord  strip  him  uv  all  his  glory  an'  landed  him  in  de 
dust.  He  tol'  him  dat  his  hour  had  come,  an'  dat  he  had 
bettur  squar  up  his  affairs,  fur  death  wuz  at  de  do'.  Den  it 
wuz  dat  de  king  fell  low  befo'  Gord ;  he  turn  his  face  ter  de 
wall ;  he  cry,  he  moan,  he  beg'd  de  Lord  not  ter  take  him 
out'n  de  worl'  yit.  Oh,  how  good  is  our  Gord !  De  cry  uv  de 
king  moved  his  heart,  an'  he  tell  him  he  gwine  ter  give  him 
anudder  show.  Tain't  only  de  kings  dat  de  Lord  hears.  De 
cry  uv  de  pris-nur,  de  wail  uv  de  bondsman,  de  tears  uv  de 
dyin'  robber,  de  prars  uv  de  backslider,  de  sobs  uv  de  domun 
dat  wuz  a  sinner,  mighty  apt  to  tech  de  heart  uv  de  Lord. 
It  look  lik  it's  hard  fer  de  sinner  ter  git  so  fur  orf  or  so  fur 
down  in  de  pit  dat  his  cry  can't  reach  de  yere  uv  de  mussiful 
Saviour. 

''But  de  Lord  do  evun  better  den  dis  fur  Hezekier — He 
tell  him  He  gwine  ter  give  him  a  sign  by  which  he'd  know 
dat  what  He  sed  wuz  cummin'  ter  pars.  I  ain't  erquainted 
wid  dem  sun  diuls  dat  de  Lord  tol'  Hezekier  'bout,  but  enny- 
body  dat  lies  got  a  grain  uv  sense  knows  dat  dey  wuz  de 
clocks  uv  dem  ole  times  an'  dey  marked  de  travuls  uv  de  sun 
by,  dem  diuls.  When,  darfo',  Gord  tol'  de  king  dat  He  wud 
mek  de  shadder  go  backward,  it  mus'  hev  bin  jes'  lak  puttin' 
de  han's  uv  de  clock  back,  but,  mark  ycr,  Izaer  'spressly  say 
dat  de  sun  return'd  ten  dergrees.  Thar  yer  are !  Ain't  dat 
de  movement  uv  de  sun?  Bless  my  soul.  Hezekier's  case 
beat  Joshwer.  Joshwer  stop  de  sun,  but  heer  de  Lord  mek 
de  sun  walk  back  ten  dergrees;  an'  yet  dey  say  dat  de  sun 
stan'  stone  still  an'  nevur  move  er  peg.  It  look  ter  me  he 
move  roun'  mighty  brisk  an'  is  ready  ter  go  ennyway  dat  de 
Lord  ordurs  him  ter  go.  I  wonder  if  enny  uv  dem  furloser- 
fers  is  roun'  here  dis  arternopn.  I'd  Jik  ter  take  a  squar'  look 


3o8 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


at  one  uv  dem  an'  ax  him  to  'splain  dis  mattur.  He  can't 
do  it,  my  bruthrin.  He  knows  a  heap  'bout  books,  maps,  fig- 
gers  an'  long  distunc.es,  but  I  derfy  him  ter  take  up  Heze- 
kier's  case  an'  'splain  it  orf.  He  carn't  do  it.  De  Word 


PUBLIC   SCHOOLS   OF   CAMDEN,    N.   J. 

uv  de  Lord  is  my  defense  an'  bulwurk,  an'  I  fears  not  what 
men  can  say  nor  do ;  my  Gord  gives  me  de  vict'ry. 

"  'Low  me,  my  frens,  ter  put  myself  squar'  'bout  dis  move 
ment  uv  de  sun.  It  ain't  no  bizniss  uv  mine  wedder  de  sun 
move  or  stan'  still,  or  wedder  it  stop  or  go  back,  or  rise 
or  set.  All  dat  is  out  er  my  han's  'tirely,  an'  I  got  nuthin' 
ter  say.  I  got  no  the-o-ry  on  de  subjik.  All  I  ax  is  dat  we 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  309 

will  take  wat  de  Lord  say  'bout  it  an'  let  His  will  be  run 
'bout  ev'rything.  \Yat  dat  will  is  I  karn't  know  'cept  He 
whisper  inter  my  soul  or  write  it  in  a  book.  Here's  de  Book. 
Dis  is  'nough  fer  me,  and  wid  it  ter  pilut  me,  I  karn't  git 
fur  erstray. 

"But  I  ain't  dun  wid  yer  yit.  As  de  song  says,  dere's  mo 
ter  follow.  I  envite  yer  ter  heer  de  fust  vers  in  de  sev'nth 
chapter  uv  de  Book  uv  Reverlashuns.  \Yhat  do  John,  und'r 
de  pow'r  uv  de  Spirit,  say  ?  He  say  he  saw  fo'  anguls  stand- 
in'  on  de  fo'  corners  uv  de  earth,  holdin'  de  fo  win's  uv  de 
earth,  an'  so  fo'th.  'Low  me  ter  ax  ef  de  earth  is  round', 
whar  do  it  keep  its  corners?  Er  flat,  squar  thing  has  cor 
ners,  but  tell  me  where  is  de  cornur  uv  er  appul,  ur  a  marbul, 
ur  a  cannun  ball,  ur  a  silver  dollar.  Ef  dar  is  enny  one  uv 
dem  furloserfurs  whar's  been  takin'  so  many  cracks  at  my 
ole  haid  'bout  here,  he  is  korjully  envited  ter  step  for'd  an' 
squar  up  dis  vexin'  bizniss.  I  here  tell  you  dat  yer  karn't 
squar  a  circul,  but  it  looks  lak  dese  great  scolurs  dun  learn 
how  ter  circul  de  squar.  Ef  dey  kin  do  it,  let  'em  step  ter 
de  front  an'  do  de  trick.  But,  mer  bruthrin,  in  my  po'  judg- 
mint,  dey  karn't  do  it ;  tain't  in  'em  ter  do  it.  Dey  is  on  der 
wrong  side  of  de  Bible ;  dat's  on  de  outside  ub  de  Bible,  an' 
dar's  whar  de  trubbul  comes  in  wid  'em.  Dey  dun  got  out  uv 
de  bres'  wuks  uv  de  truf,  an'  ez  long  ez  dey  stay  dar  de 
light  uv  de  Lord  will  not  shine  on  der  path.  I  ain't  keer'n  so 
much  'bout  de  sun,  tho'  it's  mighty  kunveenyunt  ter  hav'  it, 
but  my  trus'  is  in  de  Word  uv  de  Lord.  Long  ez  my  feet 
is  flat  on  de  solid  rock,  no  man  kin  move  me.  I'se  gittin' 
my  orders  f'um  de  Gord  of  my  salvashun. 

"Tother  day  er  man  wid  er  hi'  coler  and  side  whick'rs  cum 
ter  my  house.  He  was  one  nice  North'rn  gemman  wat  think 
a  heap  of  us  col'rd  people  in  de  Souf.  Da  ar'  luvly  folks  an* 


3io 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


I  honours  'em  very  much.  He  seem  from  de  start  kinder 
strictly  an*  cross  wid  me,  and  after  while,  he  brake  out  furi'us 
and  frettid,  an'  he  say:  'Erlow  me,  Mister  Jasper,  ter  gib 
you  sum  plain  advise.  Dis  nonsans  'bout  de  sun  movin'  whar 
you  ar'  gettin'  is  disgracin'  yer  race  all  ober  de  kuntry,  an' 


St.  Emma  Industrial  and  Agricultural  School,  Rock  Castle,  Va. 

as  a  f ren  of  yer  peopul,  I  cum  ter  say  it's  got  ter  stop.'  Ha ! 
Ha !  Ha !  Mars'  Sam  Hargrove  nuvur  hardly  smash  me  dat 
way.  It  was  equl  to  one  uv  dem  ole  overseurs  way  bak  yon- 
dur.  I  tel*  him  dat  ef  he'll  sho'  me  I'se  wrong,  I  giv'  it  all  up. 
"My !  My !  Ha !  Ha !  He  sail  in  on  me  an'  such  er  storm 


OF   THE  NEGRO  RACE  3! I 

about  science,  nu  'scuv'ries,  an'  de  Lord  only  kno's  w'at  all, 
I  ner  hur  befo',  an'  den  de  tel  me  my  race  is  ergin  me  an' 
po  ole  Jasper  mus  shet  up  'is  fule  mouf . 

"When  he  got  thru — it  look  lak  he  nuvur  wud,  I  tel  him 
John  Jasper  ain'  set  up  to  be  no  scholur,  an'  doan't  kno  de 
f  erlosophiz,  an'  ain'  trying  ter  hurt  his  peopul,  -but  is  wurk- 
in'  day  an'  night  ter  lif  'em  up,  but  his  foot  is  on  de  rock 
uv  eternal  truff.  Dar  he  stan'  and  dar  he  is  goin'  ter  stan' 
til  Gabrul  soun's  de  judgment  note.  So  er  say  to  de  gem- 
man  wat  scol'd  me  up  so  dat  I  hur  him  mek  his  remarks, 
but  I  ain'  hur  whar  he  get  his  Scritur'  from,  an'  dat  'tween 
him  an'  de  wurd  of  de  Lord  I  tek  my  stan'  by  de  Word  of 
Gord  ebery  time.  Jasper  ain'  mad;  he  ain'  nghtin'  nobody; 
he  ain'  bin  'pinted  janitur  to  run  de  sun;  he  nothin'  but  de 
servunt  of  Gord  and  a  lover  of  de  Everlasting  Word.  What 
I  keer  about  de  sun?  De  day  comes  on  wen  de  sun  will  be 
called  frum  his  race-trac,  and  his  light  squincked  out  for* 
uvur;  de  moon  shall  turn  ter  blood,  and  this  yearth  be  kon^ 
soomed  wid  fier.  Let  um  go ;  dat  wont  skeer  me  nor  trubble 
Cord's  erlect'd  peopul,  for  de  word  uv  de  Lord  shell  aindu 
furivur,  an'  on  dat  Solid  Rock  we  stan'  an'  shall  not  be 
muved. 

"Is  I  got  yer  satisfied  yit?  Has  I  prooven  my  p'int?  Oh, 
ye  whose  hearts  is  full  uv  unberlief !  Is  yer  still  hol'in'  out? 
I  reckon  de  reason  yer  say  de  sun  don'  move  is  'cause  yer 
are  so  hard  ter  move  yerse'f.  You  is  a  reel  triul  ter  me,  but, 
nevur  min',  I  ain't  gi'n  yer  up  yit,  an'  nevur  will.  Truf  is 
mighty;  it  kin  break  de  heart  uv  stone,  an'  I  mus'  fire  anud- 
der  arrur  uv  truf  out'n  de  quivur  uv  de  Lord.  If  yer  haz 
er  copy  uv  God's  Word  'bout  yer  pussun,  please  tu'n  ter  dat 
miner  profit,  Malerki,  wat  writ  der  las'  book  in  der  ole  Bible, 
an'  look  at  chaptur  de  fust,  vurs  'leben;  what  do  it  say?  I 


3I2  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

bet'r  read  it,  fur  I  got  er  noshim  yer  critics  doan't  kerry  enny 
Bible  in  thar  pockits  ev'ry  day  in  de  week.  Here  is  wat  it 
says:  'Fur  from  de  risin'  uv  de  sun  evun  unter  de  goin' 
doun  uv  de  same.  My  name  shall  be  great  'mong  de  Gen- 


Fancy  Work  by  Mrs.   Kate   Moseley,   Stoneville,  Ya. 

tiles.  .  .  .  My  name  shall  be  great  'mong  de  heathen,  sez 
de  Lord  uv  hosts/  How  do  dat  suit  ye?  It  look  lak  dat  ort 
ter  fix  it.  Dis  time  it  is  de  Lord  uv  hosts  Hisse'f  dat  is  doin' 
de  talkin',  an'  He  is  talkin'  on  er  wonderful  an'  glorious  sub- 
jik.  He  is  tellin'  uv  de  spredin'  uv  His  Gorspel,  uv  de  kum- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  313 

min'  uv  His  larst  vict'ry  ovur  de  Gentiles,  an'  de  wurldwide 
glories  dat  at  de  las'  He  is  ter  git.  Oh,  my  bruddrin,  wat  er 
time  dat  will  be.  My  soul  teks  wing  es  I  erticipate  wid  joy 
dat  merlenium  day !  De  glories  as  dey  shine  befo'  my  eyes 
blin's  me,  an'  I  furgits  de  sun  an'  moon  an'  stars.  I  jes  'mem 
bers  dat  'long  'bout  dose  las'  days  dat  de  sun  an'  moon  will 
go  out  uv  bizniss,  fur  dey  won  be  needed  no  mo'.  Den  will 
King  Jesus  come  back  ter  see  His  peopul,  an'  He  will  be  de 
suffishunt  light  uv  de  wutT.  Joshwer's  bat'ls  will  be  ovur. 
Hezekier  woan't  need  no  sun  diul,  an'  de  sun  an'  moon  will 
fade  out  befo'  de  glorius  splendurs  uv  de  New  Jerruslem. 

''But  wat  der  mattur  wid  Jasper?  I  mos'  furgit  my  biz 
niss,  an  mos'  gon'  ter  shoutin'  ovur  de  far  away  glories  uv 
de  secun'  cummin'  uv  my  Lord.  I  beg  pardun,  an'  will  try 
ter  git  back  ter  my  subjik.  I  hev  ter  do  as  de  sun  in  Heze- 
dier's  case — fall  back  er  few  degrees.  In  dat  part  uv  de 
Word  dat  I  gin  yer  frum  Malerki — dat  de  Lord  Hisse'f  spoke 
— He  klars  dat  His  glory  is  gwine  ter  speed.  Speed  ?  Whar  ? 
Frum  de  risiiv  uv  de  sun  ter  de  goin'  down  uv  de  same.  Wat? 
Doan't  say  dat,  duz  it?  Dat's  ekzakly  wat  it  sez.  Ain't  dat 
cleer  'nuff  fer  yer?  De  Lord  pity  dese  doubtin'  Tommusses. 
Here  is  'nuff  ter  settul  it  all  an'  kure  de  wuss  cases.  Walk 
up  yere,  wise  folks,  an'  git  yer  med'sin.  \Yhar  is  dem  high 
collar'd  furloserfurs  now?  Wat  dey  skulkin'  'roun'  in  de 
brush  for?  WThy  doan't  yer  git  out  in  der  broad  arternoon 
light  an'  fight  fer  yer  cullurs  ?  Ah,  I  un'stans  it ;  yer  got  no 
answer.  De  Bible  is  agin  yer,  an'  in  yer  konshunses  yer  are 
convict'd. 

"But  I  hears  yer  back  dar.  \Vhat  yer  wisprin'  'bout?  I 
know ;  yer  say  yer  sont  me  sum  papurs  an'  I  nevur  answer 
dem.  Ha,  ha,  ha!  I  got  'em.  De  differkulty  'bout  dem 
papurs  yer  sont  me  is  dat  they  did  not  answer  me.  Dey  never 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

menshun  de  Bible  one  time.  Yer  think  so  much  uv  yoursef's 
an'  so  little  uv  de  Lord  Gord  an'  thinks  wat  yer  say  is  so 
smart  dat  yer  karn't  even  speak  uv  de  Word  uv  de  Lord.  When 
yer  ax  me  ter  stop  believin'  in  de  Lord's  Word  an'  ter  pin 


N.   C.   Deaf,   Dumb  and   Blind   Institute.     Work  of   Blind   Girls. 

my  faith  ter  yo  words,  I  ain't  er  gwine  ter  do  it.  I  take  my 
stan'  by  de  Bible  an'  res'  my  case  on  wat  it  says.  I  take 
wat  de  Lord  says  'bout  my  sins,  'bout  my  Saviour,  'bout  life, 
'bout  death,  'bout  de  wurl'  ter  come,  an'  I  cares  little  wat  de 
haters  of  mer  Gord  chooses  ter  say.  Think  dat  I  will  fursake 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


315 


de  Bible?  It  is  my  only  Book,  my  hope,  de  arsnel  uv  my 
soul's  surplies,  an'  I  wants  nuthin'  else. 

"But  I  got  ernudder  vvurd  fur  yer  yit.  I  done  \vuk  ovur 
dem  papurs  dat  yer  sont  me  widout  date  an'  widout  yer  name. 
Yer  deals  in  figgurs  an'  thinks  yer  are  biggur  dan  de  arkan- 
juls.  Lemme  see  wat  yer  dun  say.  Yer  set  yerese'f  up  ter 
tell  me  how  fur  it  is  frum  here  ter  de  sun.  Yer  think  yer 
got  it  down  ter  er  nice  p'int.  Yer  say  it  is  3,339,002  miles 
from  de  earth  ter  de  sun.  Dat's  wat  yer  say.  Nudder  one 
say  dat  de  distuns  is  12,000,000;  nudder  got  it  ter  27,000,000. 
I  hers  dat  de  great  Isuk  Nutun  wuk't  it  up  ter  28,000,000,  an' 
later  on  de  ftirloserfurs  gin  ernudder  rippin'  raze  to  50,- 
000,000.  De  las'  one  gits  it  bigger  dan  all  de  yuthers,  up  to 
90,000,000.  Doan't  enny  uv  'em  ergree  ekzakly  an'  so  dey 
runs  a  guess  game,  an'  de  las'  guess  is  always  de  bigges'. 
Now,  wen  dese  guessers  kin  hav  a  kunvenshun  in  Richmun' 
an'  all  ergree  'pun  de  same  thing,  I'd  be  glad  ter  hear  frum 
yer  ag'in,  an'  I  duz  hope  dat  by  dat  time  yer  won't  be 
ershamed  uv  yer  name. 

"Keeps  uv  railroads  lies  bin  built  sense  I  saw  de  fust  one 
wen  I  wuz  fifteen  yeers  ole,  but  I  ain't  hear  tell  uv  er  rail 
road  built  yit  ter  de  sun.  I  doan'  see  why  ef  dey  kin  meshur 
de  distuns  ter  der  sun,  dey  might  not  git  up  er  railroad  er  a 
telurgraf  an'  enabul  us  ter  fin'  sumthin'  else  'bout  it  den  mere 
ly  how  fur  orf  de  sun  is.  Dey  tell  me  dat  a  kannun  ball  cu'd 
mek  de  trep  ter  de  sun  in  twelve  years.  Why  doan'  dey  send 
it?  It  might  be  rig'd  up  wid  quarturs  for  a  few  furloserfurs 
on  de  inside  an'  fixed  up  fur  er  kumfurterble  ride.  Deey  wud 
need  twelve  years'  rashuns  an'  a  heep  uv  changes  uv  ramint — 
mighty  thick  clo'es  wen  dey  start  and  mighty  thin  uns  wen 
dey  git  dar. 

"Oh,  mer  bruthrin,  dese  things  mek  yer  laugh,  an'  I  doan' 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


blem  yer  fer  laughin',  'cept  it's  always  sad  ter  laugh  at  der 
follies  uv  fools.  If  we  cu'd  laugh  'em  out'n  kount'nens,  we 
might  well  laugh  day  an'  night.  Wat  cuts  inter  my  soul  is, 
dat  all  dese  men  seem  ter  me  dat  dey  is  hittin'  at  de  Bible. 


Fancy   Work  by   Lettie   Buford,    Pueblo,   Colo. 

Dat's  wat  sturs  my  soul  an'  fills  me  wid  reichus  wrath.  Leetle 
keers  I  wat  dey  say  'bout  de  sun,  purvided  dey  let  de  Word 
uv  de  Lord  erlone.  But  nevur  min'.  Let  de  heethun  rage 
an'  de  people  'madgin  er  vain  thing.  Our  King  shall  break 
'em  in  pieces  an'  dash  'em  down.  But  blessed  be  de  name  uv 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  317 

our  Gord,  de  Word  uv  de  Lord  indurith  furivur.  Stars  may 
fall,  moons  may  turn  ter  blood,  an'  de  sun  set  ter  rise  no  mo', 
but  Thy  kingdom,  oh,  Lord,  is  f  rum  evurlastin'  ter  evurlastin'. 
"But  I  has  er  word  dis  arternoon  fer  my  own  bruthrin. 
Dey  is  de  people  fer  whose  souls  I  got  ter  watch — fer  dem 
I  got  ter  stan'  an'  report  at  de  last — dey  is  my  sheep  an'  I'se 
der  shepherd,  an'  my  soul  is  knit  ter  dem  forever.  'Tain  fer 
me  ter  be  troublin'  yer  wid  dese  questions  erbout  dem  heb'nly 
bodies.  Our  eyes  goes  far  beyon'  de  smaller  stars ;  our  home 
is  clean  outer  sight  uv  dem  twinklin'  orbs ;  de  chariot  dat  will 
cum  ter  take  us  to  our  Father's  mansion  will  sweep  out  by 
dem  flickerin'  lights  an1  never  halt  till  it  brings  us  in  clar 
view  uv  de  throne  uv  de  Lamb.  Doan't  hitch  yer  hopes  to 
no  sun  nor  stars ;  yer  home  is  got  Jesus  fer  its  light,  an'  yer 
hopes  mils'  trabel  up  dat  way.  I  preach  dis  sermon  jest  fer 
ter  settle  de  min's  uv  my  few  brutherin,  an'  repeats  it  'cause 
kin'  frens  wish  ter  hear  it,  an'  I  hopes  it  will  do  honour  ter 
de  Lord's  Word.  But  nuthin'  short  of  de  purly  gates  can 
satisfy  me,  an'  I  charge,  my  people,  fix  yer  feet  on  de  solid 
Rock,  yer  hearts  on  Calv'ry,  an'  yer  eyes  on  de  throne  uv  de 
Lamb.  Dese  strifes  an'  griefs  '11  soon  git  ober;  we  shall  see 
de  King  in  His  glory  an'  be  at  ease.  Go  on,  go  on,  ye  ransom 
uv  de  Lord ;  shout  His  praises  as  yer  go,  an'  I  shall  meet 
yer  in  de  city  uv  de  New  Jeruserlum,  whar  we  shan't  need 
the  light  uv  de  sun,  fer  de  Lam'  uv  de  Lord  is  de  light  uv 
de  saints." — John  Jasper,  the  Unmatched  Negro  Preacher  and 
Philosopher. 


318  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

No  more  fitting  close  could  be  found  fcr  this  work  than 
this  magnificent  address  of  one  of  the  greatest  leaders  of 
thought.  His  review  of  the  Negro  in  this  country  is  ex 
haustive  and  is  worthy  of  a  permanent  place  in  the  history  of 
the  race. 

THE  NEGRO  IN  AMERICA 

AN  ADDRESS 

Delivered  before  the  Philosophical  Institution  of 
Edinburgh,  i6th  October,  1907 

By 
Andrew  Carnegie,  Esq.,  LL.  D. 

SKETCH   OF  MR.  CARNEGIE'S  LIFE. 

If  there  ever  was  a  man  more  capable  than  most  of  his  fellows  of 
recognizing  and  seizing  opportunity  that  man  is  Mr.  Carnegie.  His 
career  from  his  youth  up  has  been  phenomenal  in  this  respect. — He  has 
shown  the  same  wise  perception  in  his  judgment  of  men. — His  life  has 
been  phenomenal  also  for  the  performance  of  one's  whole  duty  and  a 
"little  more." 

Andrew  Carnegie  was  born  on  November  25,  1837,  in  the  ancient 
burgh  of  Dunfermline,  Fifeshire,  Scotland.  He  owes  much  tj  his 
parentage.  His  father,  William  Carnegie,  a  master  linen  weaver  before 
the  days  of  steam,  was  a  man  of  rugged  character,  a  radical  in  politics, 
and  a  born  reformer.  To  him  are  largely  due  his  son's  radical  notions 
of  equality  and  that  superb  faith  in  republican  institutions  which 
has  blossomed  into  "Triumphant  Democracy."  His  mother  was  a 
remarkable  woman  of  fine  temperament,  and  of  great  force  of  cl  ar- 
acter  united  with  a  strong  will  and  of  determination  fitted  to  over 
come  obstacles.  She  was  her  children's  only  teacher  until  Andrew  v/as 
eight  years  old  when  he  was  placed  at  school. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


319 


After  the  introduction  of  steam  machinery  and  of  the  factory  system, 
the  family  in  1848  crossed  the  ocean  in  a  sailing  vessel  and  went  t3 
Allegheny  City.  There  Andrew  found  his  first  employment,  when 
twelve  years  old,  as  a  bobbin  boy  in  a  cotton  factory  at  $1.20  a  week 
Before  he  was  thirteen  he  had  learned  to  run  a  steam  engine  and  was 


By  Annie  Cormick,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

employed  as  an  engine  man  in  a  factory  for  making  bobbins.  He  was 
quickly  advanced  to  the  clerkship  of  his  employer.  When  fourteen 
years  old,  he  obtained  a  situation  as  messenger  boy  in  the  telegraph 
office  of  Pittsburg  at  $2.50  a  week.  Of  this  position  Mr.  Carnegie 
writes :  "My  entrance  into  the  telegraph  office  was  a  transition  from 


320  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

darkness  to  light."  While  here  he  spent  all  his  spare  time  in  prac 
ticing  sending  and  receiving  messages  by  sound.  He  soon  became 
proficient  and  was  one  of  the  two  persons  in  the  United  States  who 
could  then  receive  dispatches  by  sound.  He  became  an  operator  in 
the  telegraph  office  at  $25  per  month,  earning  a  little  additional  money 
by  copying  telegraphic  messages  for  newspapers.  This  latter  Mr. 
Carnegie  considers  a  "little  business  operation"  which  marks  his 
entrance  into  the  business  world.  The  death  of  his  father  at  this 
time  threw  the  burden  of  the  support  of  the  family  on  the  boy's 
shoulders.  He  left  the  telegraph  office  to  become  the  telegraph  opera 
tor  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  secretary  to  Colonel  Thomas  A. 
Scott,  at  the  salary  of  $35  a  month.  He  remained  in  this  service  thir 
teen  years  finally  becoming  the  successor  to  Mr.  Scott  as  superin 
tendent  of  the  Pittsburg  Division.  At  the  advice  of  his  friend,  Colonel 
Scott,  he  purchased  at  this  time  ten  shares  of  the  Adams  Express 
Company,  the  family  mortgaging  their  home  for  the  necessary  $500. 
Later  he  met  by  chance  and  introduced  the  inventor  of  the  sleep 
ing  car  to  Colonel  Scott  ^nd  he  accepted  the  offer  of  an  interest  in 
this  venture.  For  his  share  of  the  money,  $217.50,  he  made  his  first 
note  and  got  a  banker  to  take  it.  In  company  with  several  others, 
he  purchased  the  now  famous  Storey  Farm  on  Oil  Creek,  Pennsylvania. 

When  the  War  between  the  States  broke  out  Mr.  Carnegie  was 
called  to  Washington  and  entrusted  with  the  charge  of  the  military 
railroads  and  telegraphs  of  the  government. 

Mr.  Carnegie  organized  the  Keystone  Bridge  Works,  the  first  com 
pany  to  build  iron  bridges,  and  the  first  step  on  the  road  to  the  pre 
eminence  he  has  attained  as  the  largest  iron  and  steel  master  in  the 
world.  By  1888  he  had  built  or  acquired  seven  distinct  iron  and  steel 
works,  all  of  which  are  now  included  in  the  Carnegie  Steel  Company, 
Limited.  In  the  aggregate  the  Carnegie  Steel  Company  can  produce 
monthly  140,000  tons  of  pig  iron  and  160,000  tons  of  steel  ingots.  The 
monthly  pay-roll  exceeds  $1,125,000  or  nearly  $50,000  for  each  working 
day. 

Mr.  Carnegie  is  a  strong  advocate  of  the  payment  of  labor  on  a 
sliding  scale  based  upon  the  prices  obtained  for  the  products  manu 
factured. 

Mr.  Carnegie  has  found  leisure  to  indulge  in  literary  work  and  the 
articles  from  his  pen  are  welcomed  by  the  principal  periodicals,  both 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


321 


in  the  United  States  and  England.  Some  of  his  books  are  "Round 
the  World,"  "An  American  Four-in-Hand  in  Briton,"  and  "Triumphant 
Democracy;  or  Fifty  Years'  March  of  the  Republic."  Besides  his 
books  Mr.  Carnegie  has  also  published  pamphlets  and  review  articles 
on  political  and  kindred  subjects.  "The  Gospel  of  Wealth,"  presents 


CURRY    NORMAL   AND   INDUSTRIAL   INSTITUTE,   URBANA,   OHIO 

Mr.  Carnegie's  sentiments  in  regard  to  the  rich  man's  duty  to  his 
fellow-men.  To  quote  his  own  words :  "The  man  who  dies  rich,  dies 
in  disgrace.  That  is  the  gospel  I  preach,  that  is  the  gospel  I  prac 
tice,  and  that  is  the  gospel  I  intend  to  practice  during  the  remainder  of 
my  life." 

Mr.  Carnegie's  philanthropic  generosity  which  is  by  no  means  wholly 
represented   in    his   munificent    gifts    for    the    establishment    of    free 


322  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

libraries  has  won  for  him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  thinking  men 
the  world  over,  and  has  brought  him  other  rewards,  of  which  he  is 
very  proud,  among  them  the  freedom  of  seven  cities  of  his  native  land, 
including  the  capital.  But  greater  than  all  to  him  must  be  the  con 
sciousness  that  he  has  been  able  to  serve  his  fellow-man.  In  an 
address  Mr.  Carnegie  says,  "What  a  man  owns  is  already  subordinate 
in  America  to  what  he  knows ;  but  in  the  final  aristocracy  the  question 
will  not  be  either  of  these,  but  what  has  he  done  for  his  fellows? 
Where  has  he  shown  generosity  and  self-abnegation?  When  has  he 
been  a  father  to  the  fatherless?  And  the  cause  of  the  poor,  where  has 
he  searched  that  out  ?  How  has  he  worshipped  God  will  not  be  asked 
in  that  day,  but  how  he  has  served  man." 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Philosophical  Institution : 

So  many  and  varied  have  been  the  subjects  treated  by  my 
predecessors  in  your  long  history,  that  one  has  some  difficulty 
in  selecting  a  theme.  I  escape  this,  however,  by  breaking 
fresh  ground  in  bringing  to  your  attention  "The  Negro  in 
America." 

No  racial  movement  in  the  world  to-day  is  more  interest 
ing;  few,  if  any,  are  more  important.  We  here  deal  with 
ten  millions  of  people — double  the  population  of  Scotland — 
recently  not  men  but  slaves, — the  very  last  slaves  held  by  a 
number  of  our  English-speaking  race, — who  were  not  only 
suddenly  made  free-men,  but  also  entrusted  with  the  ballot. 

Proud  is  the  boast, 

"Slaves  cannot  breathe  in  Britain!    If  their  lungs 
Receive  our  air,  that  moment  they  are  free. 
They  touch  our  country,  and  their  shackles  fall." 

But  where  the  poet-liberator  stops,  his  part  finished,  the 
statesman's  work  only  begins.  The  shackles  fall,  but  the  citi 
zen  fails  to  emerge.  How  is  the  slave  to  gain  self-control, 
wisdom's  root,  when  all  his  days  he  has  been  controlled  by 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


323 


others?  " Arise  and  walk"  was  once  said  to  the  lame,  but  a 
miracle-worker  was  required  to  effect  this  instant  cure.  It  is 
the  necessarily  slow  development  of  the  slave  into  the  citizen 
which  I  propose  to  lay  before  you  to-night. 


aM 

M:.,  fc  W! 


Sheldon  Kindergarten,   Topeka,   Kan.     Under   auspices  of   author  of 
"In  His  Steps." 

In  one  respect  the  problem  is  unique.  The  Negro  is  called 
upon  to  rise  in  the  scale  from  slavery  to  citizenship  in  the 
presence  of  a  civilization  representative  of  the  highest, — his 
shortcomings,  backslidings,  failures,  cannot  but  be  numerous 
and  discouraging,  and  the  contrasts  between  whites  and  blacks 


324  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

in  many  respects  such  as  to  produce  the  belief  in  the  minds 
of  their  former  masters  that  the  end  striven  for  is  unattain 
able.  Once  a  slave,  always  a  slave,  so  far  as  the  Negro  race 
is  concerned,  is  their  natural  conclusion. 

The  first  cargo  of  slaves,  twenty  in  number,  was  landed  at 
Jamestown,  Va.,  August,  1619,  only  a  few  years  after  the 
original  Colonists  settled  at  Jamestown,  and  one  year  before 
the  Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth.  When  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  was  signed  in  1776,  there  were  already  five  hun 
dred  and  two  thousand  slaves  in  the  country.  The  Constitu 
tion,  however,  limited  their  importation,  and  the  act  of  1807 
abolished  it.  Natural  increase  almost  alone,  therefore,  pro 
duced  in  the  hundred  years,  1790  to  1890,  a  ten-fold  increase, 
to  seven  millions  and  a  half.  The  last  slaves  were  smug 
gled  in  against  the  law  as  late  as  1858. 

Boston  had  become  one  of  the  chief  ports  for  the  slave 
trade,  but  experience  proved  that  the  warmer  South,  not 
the  'icy  North,  was  to  be  the  Negro's  home.  They  rapidly 
gravitated  southward,  and  found  their  place  in  the  cotton 
fields.  Virginia,  under  the  influence  of  Jefferson,  was  the 
first  to  prohibit  the  importation  of  slaves.  Slavery  was  abol 
ished  by  State  after  State  in  the  North,  and  it  became  com 
mon  for  people  of  the  best  element  in  the  border  States, 
represented  by  Washington  and  his  circle,  sometimes  before 
and  frequently  by  will  after  their  death  to  manumit  their 
slaves.  Needless  to  say,  good  men  and  women  treated  them 
well,  and  were  often  repaid  by  loyal  and  even  intense  devo 
tion,  but,  if  it  were  to  continue,  the  relationship  demanded 
that  it  be  unlawful  to  teach  slaves  to  read.  Education  is 
moral  dynamite  which  invariably  explodes  into  rebellion. 
This  is  one  of  the  penalties  that  we  of  the  English-speaking 
race  have  to  pay  for  our  well-meant  attempts  to  govern  what 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  325 

arc  called  subject  races.  In  teaching  our  history,  we  supply 
them  with  the  most  deadly  explosives,  sure  some  day  to  burst 
and  rend  the  teacher.  We  "teach  bloody  instructions  which 
return  to  plague  the  inventors,"  unless  we  be  wise,  and  from 
time  to  time  grant  the  liberties  we  ourselves  extol  and  enjoy. 


Intelligence  forces  equal  rights;  hence  the  unrest  in  Egypt, 
India,  the  Philippines  and  other  countries  under  foreign 
tutelage  is,  in  one  sense,  a  wholesome  sign  as  proving  that 
the  awakening  masses  are  stirred  to  action  and  demand 
recognition  as  fellow-citizens,  thus  showing  that  our  teach 
ing,  and  especially  our  example,  have  had  their  inevitable 


326  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

• 

and,  let  us  never  forget,  their  salutary  effect.  Let  it  never 
be  said  that  our  race  teaches  men  how  to  remain  slaves,  but 
always  how  they  can  become  freemen — not  that  they  should 
forget  their  own  country,  but  how  they  can  repeat,  like  our 
selves,  with  throbbing  heart. 

"Breathes  there  a  man  with  soul  so  dead, 
Who   never   to    himself    has   said, 
'This  is  my  own,  my  native  land?'" 

Only  so  can  the  mother  of  nations  be  proud  of  her  chil 
dren,  or  America  some  day  be  proud  of  the  Philippines  to 
which  she  has  just  given  a  Legislature. 

It  is,  at  first  thought,  remarkable  that  the  Negro  in  Amer 
ica  has  been  so  long-suffering.  There  never  was  a  Negro 
conspiracy  nor  a  united  revolt  of  any  great  importance  in 
the  United  States.  Never  were  national  troops  needed  to 
repress  serious  outbreak.  But  let  it  be  remembered  that  the 
Southerner,  the  master,  knew  better  than  to  teach  them  as 
we  now  teach  subject  races.  It  was  unlawful  to  teach  the 
slave  to  read.  Ignorance  is  the  only  possible  foundation 
upon  which  dominion  over  others  can  rest.  When  I  talked 
to  the  natives  of  India  who  had  been  educated  in  your 
schools  there,  and  heard  from  them  how  Washington,  Crom 
well,  Sidney,  Pym,  Hampden  and  others  were  revered,  I 
was  proud  that  our  race  develops  men,  not  slaves.  As  Burke 
said — "We  view  the  establishment  of  the  colonies  on  princi 
ples  of  liberty,  as  that  which  is  to  render  this  kingdom 
venerable  in  future  ages" — a  nobler  triumph  than  all  Britain's 
armies  and  fleets  ever  give.  This  is  true  glory. 

The  North  would  probably  have  acquiesced  in  the  con 
stitutional  recognition  of  slavery  in  the  original  slave  States 
so  long  as  each  citizen  felt  that  his  own  State  was  free  from 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


327 


Case  of  watch  works,  gold  and  silver  rings,  watch  chains 
and  engravings,  by  J.  T.  Dooley,  a  Negro  jeweler  of 
Sweet  Springs,  W.  Va. 


328  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

its  blight,  and  it  might  have  died  peacefully  as  with  you  in 
the  West  Indies  through  compensation. 

Population  from  North  and  South  began  to  pour  into 
the  Western  territories.  Were  these  to  be  "slave"  or  "free"? 
This  was  the  issue;  hence  sprang  the  irrepressible  conflict. 
The  South  claimed  the  right  to  hold  slaves  anywhere  upon 
common  territory.  The  North  opposed  granting  a  single 
foot  of  territory  beyond  the  old  States,  where  the  Constitu 
tion  recognized  slavery.  The  same  spirit  that  stirred  Britain 
and  compelled  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  West  Indies 
animated  the  North.  Slavery  became  in  the  eyes  of  North 
ern  people  the  accursed  thing,  "sum  of  all  villainies,"  and, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  not  good  Americanism.  Many 
runaway  slaves  crossed  the  border,  pursued  by  officers,  who  in 
some  cases  were  accompanied  by  trained  dogs.  Slaves  also 
passed  over  the  border  rivers  sometimes  on  the  ice.  The  pur 
suers  were  not  accorded  enthusiastic  welcome  in  the  North, 
and-  little  of  the  assistance  which  the  law  required  was  given 
in  the  chase.  The  South  demanded  and  secured  a  fugitive 
slave  law  from  Congress.  The  rival  parties,  Free-Soil  North 
erners  and  Slave-holding  Southerners,  encountered  each 
other  in  the  Territories,  and  very  soon  the  whole  country 
was  at  fever  heat. 

When  the  North  was  required  by  law  to  assist  in  capturing 
men  flying  from  slavery  and  return  them  to  it,  there  was  an 
end  to  all  discussion.  Human  slavery  at  last  became  not 
merely  a  political  but  also  a  moral  question.  Was  the 
Republic  to  be  a  Free  or  Slave  Power? — an  issue  only  to  be 
decided  by  the  most  gigantic  contest  of  modern  times.  Into 
this  the  slaves  were  drawn.  Lincoln  with  a  stroke  of  the 
pen  emancipated  them,  and  thus  almost  the  last  vestige  of 
slavery  vanished  from  the  civilized  world.  (Brazil  abolished 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


329 


slavery,  in  1871;  Porto  Rico,  in  1873;  Cuba,  in  1880,  and 
the  United  States  abolished  slavery  in  the  Philippines  in 
1902).  Then  the  rash  step  was  taken  of  instantly  conferring 
the  suffrage  upon  them.  Perhaps  the  best  defense  of  the 


SAMPLES    OF    WORK    BY    L.    H.    PIERCE,    OF    LANSING,    MICH.  - 

measure  is  that  it  was  a  choice  of  evils.  Only  through 
Negroes,  it  was  urged,  was  the  general  government  enabled 
to  maintain  its  sovereignty  and  ensure  loyal  Congressional 
representatives,  thus  securing  Constitutional  Government 
over  the  South.  The  white  people  of  the  South,  intensely 


330  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

loyal  to  their  States  as  against  the  government,  were  infu 
riated  by  the  ascendency  of  their  former  slaves.  No  situa 
tion  could  be  imagined  more  certain  than  this  to  drive  fur 
ther  apart  the  two  races,  and  to  embitter  the  feelings  of  the 
Southern  whites  against  the  colored  allies  of  the  victorious 
North.  Such  was  the  condition  in  America  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  some  forty-odd  years  ago. 

Here  we  have  between  four  and  five  millions  of  slaves, 
formerly  held  in  ignorance,  unable  to  read  or  write,  without 
churches,  schools,  or  property  of  any  kind,  and  yet  called 
upon  to  perform  the  duties  of  citizenship,  their  former  mas 
ters  surrounding  them  incensed  at  their  elevation.  How 
were  the  Negroes  recently  slaves  to  be  made  fit  as  citizens? 
— a  problem  that  might  appall  the  bravest.  Yet  this  was 
the  one  fundamental  requirement,  for  without  improvement 
of  the  black  race  no  satisfactory  solution  was  possible. 

After  a  period  of  fifty  years  we  are  to-night  to  enquire 
whether  the  American  Negro  has  proved  his  capacity  to 
develop  and  improve;  this  I  propose  to  answer  by  citing 
facts. 

The   first   question    the    ethnologist  will   naturally   ask   is : 
Has  he  proved  himself  able  to  live  in  contact  with  civiliza 
tion,  and  increase  as  a  freeman,  or  does  he  slowly  die  out  like 
the  American  Indian,  Maori  or  Hawaiian?     The  census  an 
swers  that  the  total  number  of  Negroes  in  America 
In  1880  was  6,580,793, 
In   1900  was  8,840,789. 

Increase  in  twenty  years,  2,259,996,  equal  to  34.3  per  cent., 
almost  double  the  rate  of  increase  of  the  United  Kingdom, 
and  within  3  per  cent,  of  the  increase  of  America,  white  and 
black  combined.  The  Negro  race  numbers  to-day  about 
ten  millions.  It  does  not  increase  as  fast  as  the  white  in 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


331 


America  because  there  is  no  black  immigration ;  taking  only 
native  whites  and  blacks,  their  relative  increase  must  be 
about  equal.  There  is  no  trace  of  decline  here,  but  a  sur 
prisingly  rapid  rate  of  increase,  one  of  the  surest  proofs  of 
a  virile  race  calculated  to  survive  in  the  struggle  for  exist- 


PYROGRAPHY    BY    C.   ARTHUR   LEWIS,   EAST   ST.   LOUIS,    ILL. 

ence.    The  first  test,  therefore,  we  may  consider  successfully 
met. 

Now  for  the  second.  Scotland's  proud  position  among 
nations  rests  chiefly  upon  the  realization  of  the  famous 
declaration  of  John  Knox,  "I  will  never  rest  until  there  is 
a  public  school  in  every  parish  in  Scotland,"  which  finally 
led  to  the  noble  enactment  which  proclaims  that,  "no  father, 
of  what  estate  or  condition  that  ever  he  may  be,  use  his 
children  at  his  own  fantasie,  especially  in  their  childhood, 


332  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

but  all  must  be  compelled  to  bring  up  their  children  in  learn 
ing  and  virtue."  You  will  agree  with  me,  I  am  sure,  that 
the  second  test  of  capacity  to  reach  the  standard  of  citizen 
ship  is  the  passion  for  education,  the  desire  to  be  able  to 
read,  write  and  cypher.  Before  the  war  this  broad  avenue  to 
all  progress  was  closed  to  the  slave.  Let  us  see  whether 
he  has  taken  advantage  of  the  door  that  opened  after  slavery 
was  abolished. 

The  censuses  of  1870  and  1900,  thirty  years  apart,  com 
pare  as  follows  as  to  illiteracy  of  the  Negro  males  of  voting 
age: 

Total  Number  Illiterates       Per  Cent. 

1870  1,032,475  862,243  83.5 

1900  2,060,302  976,610  47.4 

Thus  in  thirty  years  illiteracy  has  fallen  43  per  cent.  At 
the  same  rate  of  progress,  it  is  to-day  (1907)  not  one-half 
as  great  as  in  1870. 

Of  the  first  1,032,000  of  people  in  1870,  862,000  were  illiter 
ate.  The  second  1,028,000  of  1900  added  only  114,000,  nearly 
eight  illiterates  in  the  1870  males  of  voting  age  to  one 
illiterate  in  the  second  million  increase  up  to  1900. 

We  have  an  instructive  census  table  showing  illiterates  in 
the  colored  population  of  ten  years  of  age  and  over  for  1880 
and  1900: 

Total  Number     Illiterates       Per  Cent. 
1880  4,601,207  3,220,878  70.0 

1900  *6,4i  5,581  2,853,194  44-5 

A  decrease  in  illteracy  of  thirty-six  per  cent,  in  twenty  years. 
While   illiteracy  among  the   Negroes  is  being  rapidly   re 
duced,  we  must  not  forget  an  equally  encouraging  reduction 
among  the  poor  whites,  a  class  that  was  much  to  be  pitied 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


A  house  three  and  a  half  feet  high,  entirely  complete,  built  by  James 
DeSheilds,  carpenter  of  Wilmington,  Delaware.  The  scale  is  well 
preserved  throughout. 


334  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

during  slavery,  with  the  contempt  for  honest  labor  that  fol 
lowed  slavery  as  its  shadow.  The  slave-master  performed  no 
labor,  and  was  as  a  rule  above  trade — a  territorial  magnate 
fashioned  after  that  class  in  Britain.  The  poor  white  aimed 
at  that  standard,  and  hence  declined  to  learn  handicrafts.  A 
small  piece  of  ground,  usually  rented,  sufficed  to  keep  him 
alive,  and  everything  approaching  manual  labor  was  work 
for  slaves.  Illiteracy  prevailed  to  an  enormous  extent.  The 
census  of  1900,  however,  showed  that  the  South  had  reduced 
the  percentage  of  native  white  males  who  could  not  read  and 
Write  to  16  per  cent. 

In  considering  the  Southern  problem,  we  must  never 
forget  that  the  "poor  whites"  are  an  element  complicating 
the  situation,  the  attitude  of  this  class  to  the  black  being 
intensely  hostile — far  beyond  that  of  the  former  slave-holding 
aristocrats. 

There  was  no  public  school  system  in  any  Southern  State 
before  the  war ;  now  there  is  no  State  without  one,  embrac 
ing  Negro  as  well  as  white  schools. 

Since  1880  Negro  churches  have  contributed  for  Negro 
education  $9,549,700,  almost  two  millions  sterling  to  supple 
ment  deficiencies  of  the  State  systems. 

The  colored  church  is  chiefly  composed  of  Methodists  and 
Baptists,  and  is  a  great  force  among  the  Negroes,  exercis 
ing  commanding  influence.  Let  all  doubters  of  the  future 
of  the  Negro  race  remember  that  it  has  23,462  church  organi 
zations  and  has  built  23,770  churches,  with  a  seating  capacity 
of  6,800,000.  It  has  2,673,977  communicants  out  of  10,000,- 
ooo  population ;  few  adult  Negroes  are  outside  of  the  church. 
Their  church  property  is  valued  at  $26,626,448,  over  five  and 
one-half  millions  sterling.  It  may  be  doubted  whether  even 
Scotland's  percentage  of  communicants  reaches  that  of  the 


J 
OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


335 


A  very  finely  carved  buffet,  by  Walter  S.  Ebb,  of  Bal 
timore,  Md.  Ebb  is  a  product  of  the  High  and  Indus 
trial  School  of  that  city,  and  has  carved  this  piece  at 
spare  moments  from  other  business.  He  refused 
some  very  high  offers  for  the  buffet. 


336  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

whole  Negro  race.  Many  of  the  foremost  leaders  of  the 
Negro  people  are  to  be  found  among  their  churchmen.  They 
have  been  especially  fortunate  in  their  bishops  who  are 
elected,  not  appointed,  and  are  active,  progressive  men. 

In  1860  Negro  schools  were  almost  unknown,  it  being  un 
lawful  to  teach  the  slave.  In  the  year  1900,  1,096,734  colored 
youths  attended  public  schools,  and  17,138  attended  higher 
schools  of  learning.  The  warfare  against  ignorance  goes  on 
apace  among  both  whites  and  blacks.  For  twenty  years  after 
the  war  progress  in  providing  Negro  schools  by  the  States 
was  very  slow,  but  since  1880  there  has  been  spent  by  the 
States  in  their  support  $105,807,930,  about  twenty-five  mil 
lions  sterling.  In  addition  to  this,  all  over  the  South  the 
Negro  is  providing  additional  school  buildings  and  extend 
ing  the  term  for  keeping  them  open  each  year  beyond  that 
fixed  by  the  States,  the  additional  cost  thereof  being  defrayed 
by  the  Negroes. 

The  strong  religious  tendency  which  characterizes  the 
Negro  finds  vent  in  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations. 
Three  men  are  employed  by  the  National  Committee,  who 
devote  themselves  exclusively  to  their  foundation  and  con 
trol.  Thirty-seven  associations  already  exist  in  the  princi 
pal  cities ;  twenty-three  paid  secretaries  give  their  entire  time 
to  the  work,  which  is  extending  rapidly. 

The  higher  education  of  the  Negro  has  not  been  neglected. 
There  are  several  universities.  Prominent  among  these  are 
Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.,  established  1867, 
and  has  graduated  from  its  college  and  professional  depart 
ments  about  2,500  students,  many  of  whom  have  become 
successful  preachers,  professors,  physicians  and  lawyers. 

Fisk    University,    Nashville,   Tennessee,    established    1866, 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  337 

and  has  graduated  615  students,  who  have  generally  entered 
the  professions  or  become  teachers. 


Painting  on  velvet  of  Holly  Crest  Mountain,  by  Geraldine 
Maidbark,  Ouray,  Colo. 

There  are  now  in  the  country  136  colleges  and  "industrial 
schools"  exclusively  for  the  education  of  Negroes,  apart 
from  the  public  schools. 


338  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

It  will  be  many  years  before  this  immense  and  sparsely 
populated  region  known  as  the  South  can  boast  that  Knox's 
scheme  is  completed;  but  at  the  present  rate  of  progress  this 
century  apparently  will  not  close  upon  a  "parish"  minus  its 
public  school. 

Such  is  the  gratifying  evidence  that  the  Negro  race  shares 
with  the  Scotch  the  passion  for  education. 

We  now  come  to  the  third  vital  test  of  a  race  only  less 
important  than  the  other  two.  We  have  seen  that  the  Negro 
is  rapidly  becoming  a  reading  and  writing  man ;  permit  me 
to  give  some  facts  proving  that  he  is  also  becoming  a  saving 
man. 

Surely  no  better  proof  can  be  given  of  his  desire  and  ability 
to  rise  and  become  a  respectable  member  of  society  than  the 
production  of  a  bank-book  with  a  good  balance,  or,  better 
still,  the  title  to  a  farm  or  a  home  free  of  debt.  The  saving 
man  is  par  excellence  the  model  citizen — peaceable,  sober, 
industrious  and  frugal.  The  magic  of  property  works  won 
ders,  indeed,  and  pray  remember  once  more  that  only  forty- 
three  years  ago  he,  a  slave,  the  property  of  a  master,  found 
himself  suddenly  and  without  warning  his  own  master,  face 
to  face  with  duties  to  which  he  was  wholly  a  stranger — self- 
support,  self-direction  and  self-control,  the  care  of  wife  and 
children,  wage-earning  and  the  expenditure  of  wages,  the 
duties  of  citizenship,  including  the  right  of  voting,. all  thrust 
upon  him  who  had  been  until  that  hour  possessed  of  nothing, 
not  even  of  himself,  without  home,  school,  church,  or  any 
of  the  elements  of  civilized  life.  The  horse  or  cow,  fed  in  its 
stall  and  worked  on  the  estate,  had  scarcely  less  to  do  with 
providing  for  itself  than  the  general  field  slave.  Only  the 
few  household  servants  and  craftsmen  were  of  a  much  higher 
class. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


339 


Has  the  Negro  shown  the  ambition  and  the  ability  to  save 
and  own  his  home  or  his  farm?  Does  he  take  to  the  land, 
and  is  he  making  a  successful  farmer  and  landlord?  These 


A  Boat  Propeller  patented  by  S.  G.  Crawford,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  a 
unique  device  for  propelling  and  steering  a  small  boat  by  means  of  a 
simple  gearing  so  arranged  that  one  man  can  sit  facing  in  the  direction 
in  which  he  is  going,  and,  by  turning  a  double  crank,  go  straight  ahead 
or  to  the  left  or  right  as  he  wishes.  It  is  an  excellent  idea  and  well 
deserves  the  silver  medal  it  was  awarded. 

are  vital  points  bearing  upon  his  future.  Let  us  examine  the 
record. 

In  1900  no  less  than  746,717  farms,  38,233,933  acres,  59,- 
741  square  miles,  just  the  area  of  England  and  Wales,  or 
double  that  of  Scotland,  were  owned  or  tenanted  by  Negroes, 


340 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


who  forty  years  previously  owned  nothing.  These  embraced, 
in  the  Southern  Central  States,  27.2  per  cent,  of  all  the  farms ; 
in  the  South  Atlantic  States,  30  per  cent. ;  in  the  Southern 
States — Florida,  33  per  cent. ;  Georgia,  39.9  per  cent. ;  Ala 
bama,  42  per  cent. ;  Louisiana,  50.2  per  cent.,  and  Mis 
sissippi,  55  per  cent.  The  Negro  has  more  farms  than  the 
whites  in  the  last  two  States,  but  it  must  be  remembered 
that  the  average  size  of  Negro  farms  is  very  much  less  than 
those  of  the  whites. 

The  figures  just  quoted  include  farms  owned  or  tenanted 
by  negroes,  i.  c.,  they  were  either  landlords  or  farmers.  When 
we  come  to  farms  in  the  hands  of  owners  we  find  that  in  the 
twelve  Southern  States  Negro  landlords  in  1900  owned  173,- 
352  farms,  and  the  aggregate  wealth  of  Negroes  was  esti 
mated  at  $300,000,000. 

The  race  that  owned  not  an  acre  of  land  forty  years  ago 
is  now  possessor  as  landlords  of  an  area  larger  than  Belgium 
and  Holland  combined,  and  rapidly  increasing.  The  Negroes 
have  the  land  hunger,  one  of  the  best  qualities,  and  they  are 
entering  freely  into  the  landlord  class,  a  statement  which 
perhaps  may  be  calculated  to  arouse  your  sympathy  in  Scot 
land,  but  when  the  owner  is  landlord,  factor,  farmer  and 
worker  all  combined,  and  really  does  a  hard  day's  work, 
dividends  appear. 

The  white  American  landlord,  factor,  farmer  and  worker, 
all  in  one,  is  the  backbone  of  the  body  politic,  always  con 
servative  as  against  revolutionary  projects,  but  moving  ahead 
with  the  times,  intelligent,  fair-minded,  exceedingly  well- 
behaved,  a  kindly-  neighbor  and  model  citizen.  They  exceed 
five  millions  in  number.  The  Negro  landlord  may  be  trusted 
to  develop  in  due  time  into  the  likeness  of  his  white  neighbor 
and  draw  his  race  upward  after  him. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  341 

We  hear  much  of  the  unsatisfactory  relations  between  the 
two  races  in  the  South,  but  we  may  safely  conclude  that  the 
peaceful  settlement  of  these  thousands  of  Negro  landlords 


CHINA   PAINTING   BY    MRS.    FANNY   CLINKSCALE,   TOPEKA, 
KANSAS,   AND  MRS.  ADDIE  BYRD,   COLUMBUS,  OHIO. 

would  have  been  impossible,  and  on  the  part  of  the  Negroes 
undesired,  had  there  not  been  peace  and  good  will  between 
them  and  their  wrhite  neighbors. 

Virginia   is   the   foremost   Southern   State,     She   has   one. 


342 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


hundred  counties.  In  thirty-three  counties  80  per  cent,  of 
the  Negro  farmers  own  and  manage  their  land ;  in  fifty,  70 
per  cent,  do  so,  and  only  nineteen  counties  have  more  white 
than  Negro  farmers. 

In  1898,  Negroes  in  Virginia  owned  978,117  acres;  in  1903, 
1,304,471  acres,  a  gain  by  Negro  landlords  in  five  years  of 
326,353  acres. 

The  total  business  capital  of  Negroes  in  Virginia  in  1889 
was  $5,691,137;  in  1899,  $8,784,637.  Seventy-nine  per  cent, 
of  them  had  less  than  $2,500  each  (£500),  so  that  a  great 
number  use  their  own  funds. 

Georgia  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  of  the  Southern 
States. 

Land  owned  by  Negroes : 

Acres  Value 

1900  1,075,073  $4,274,549 

1901  i,i4iJ35  4,656,042 

showing  70,000  acres  added  in  one  year.  The  assessed  value 
(the  actual  value  being  double)  of  all  property  owned  by 
Negroes  in  the  State  was : 

1900 $14,118,720 

1901 15,629,181 

an  increase  of  a  million  and  a  half  dollars,  or  nearly  n  per 
cent,  in  one  year. 

The  Negro  has  often  been  described  as  lazy  and  indolent, 
yet  the  census  shows  that  in  the  South  84.1  per  cent,  of 
colored  males  and  40.7  per  cent,  of  females,  over  ten  years, 
are  engaged  in  gainful  occupations,  while  of  the  white  popu 
lation  of  the  country  the  percentage  is  79.5,  and  only  16  per 
cent,  of  females.  The  Negro  is  chiefly  employed  in  agricul- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  343 

ture.     The    census    of    1900    shows     1,344,125    agricultural 
laborers  and  757,822  farmers,  planters  and  overseers.     The 


MADONNA  BY  BERTINA  B.  LEE,  TRENTON,  N.  J. 

impression  of  laziness  probably  arises  from  climate.  The 
Negro  does  not,  nor  does  any  race,  work  as  hard  in  the  sunny 
South  as  in  colder  climates.  There  is  another  point  not  to 


344  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

be  lost  sight  of — how  a  man  works  as  a  slave  or  servant  for 
a  master  does  not  prove  how  he  will  work  as  a  freeman  for 
himself. 

The  Negro  agriculturists,  as  has  been  seen,  are  rapidly 
becoming  landlords.  Those  residing  in  cities  show  similar 
ambition  to  acquire  real  estate.  Jackson,  Mississippi,  for 
instance,  is  owned  to  the  extent  of  one-seventh  by  Negroes, 
who  have  two  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  taxa 
ble  property.  A  statement  is  given  for  Richmond,  Virginia, 
showing  that  there  as  elsewhere  Negroes  are  engaged  in 
every  occupation  and  profession — 10  lawyers,  30  ministers, 
3  dentists,  10  physicians,  2  photographers,  school  masters, 
real  estate  dealers,  merchants,  tailors,  jewelers,  35  dress 
makers,  4  savings  banks,  4  newspapers  (weekly),  4  restau 
rant-keepers,  16  stenographers.  Every  field  of  human  acti 
vity  is  represented.  The  first  physician  in  Richmond  to  use 
a  motor  car  was  a  Negro.  The  resources  of  the  first  colored 
people's  bank  are  reported  at  $555,288  (£115,000).  There 
are  thirty-three  Negro  banks  in  the  country.  Building  and 
loan  associations  and  insurance  companies  are  not  overlooked, 
several  have  been  organized  and  are  being  successfully  con 
ducted  by  Negroes  in  various  cities.  There  are  in  the  United 
States  1,734  Negro  physicians  and  surgeons,  and  125  drug 
stores  owned  by  Negroes.  Not  only  are  all  professions  filled 
by  Negroes ;  the  Patent  Office  in  Washington  shows  400 
inventions  patented  by  them. 

The  desire  to  own  a  home  is  one  of  the  most  encouraging 
of  all  traits  in  the  masses  of  a  nation.  In  1865  the  Negroes 
were  almost  without  homes  of  their  own.  In  1900,  thirty-five 
years  later,  there  were  372,414  owners  of  homes,  and  of  these 
225,156  were  free  of  encumbrance. 

Home  is  the  cradle  of  the  virtues.    Man  is  not  quite  up 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  345 

to  the  standard  until  he  can  say  proudly  to  himself,  "This  is 
my  own,  my  precious  home,"  and  if  he  be  able  to  add  "and 
all  paid  for,"  so  much  the  better.  He  has  given  the  best 
proof  possible  of  his  good  citizenship.  This  is  our  bulwark 
in  America  against  revolutionary  or  socialistic  ideas.  So 
many  millions  own  their  homes  that  they  control  political 
action.  The  right  of  private  property  is  sacred.  Individual 
ism  rules  in  the  Republic. 

The  Negro  has  not  overlooked  the  press  as  an  essential 
element  of  modern  progress.  Several  attempts  were  made 
to  establish  newspapers  previous  to  1847.  I*1  later  years, 
however,  many  have  become  successful.  The  newspaper 
directory  for  1905  gives  140  publications  of  every  class  pub 
lished  by  Negroes,  but  it  is  said  to  be  incomplete.  There 
are  six  Negro  magazines,  two  of  these  quarterly  denomina 
tional  publications,  four  being  monthly  and  undenomina 
tional.  Most  of  the  newspapers  are  devoted  to  local  affairs 
and  of  little  general  interest,  but  some  twenty-five  published 
by  Negroes  in  different  sections  of  the  country  are  said  to 
be  really  creditable  to  the  profession  of  journalism. 

The  Negro  has  not  failed  to  make  his  appearance  in  litera 
ture.  Booker  Washington's  "Up  from  Slavery"  needs  no 
comment.  Professor  DuBois's  "The  Souls  of  Black  Folk," 
has  attracted  much  attention.  Charles  W.  Chestnutt's  several 
books  bearing  upon  the  race  question  are  notable.  T.  Thomas 
Fortune,  editor  of  the  New  York  Age,  the  most  successful 
Negro  editor,  has  written  two  interesting  books,  "The  Negro 
in  Politics,"  and  "Black  and  White,"  has  also  published  a 
volume  of  poems  and  has  been  prominent  in  all  efforts  to 
elevate  his  race.  Dunbar,  the  poet,  called  the  Burns  of  his 
race,  who  has  recently  passed  away,  was  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  public  by  Howells.  A  new  Negro  poet  who 


346 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


has  recently  claimed  recognition  is  William  S.  Braithwaite, 
Henry  O.  Tanner,  the  Negro  artist,  has  recently  won  the 
gold  medal  at  Paris,  and  is  now  represented  in  the  Luxem- 


GRECIAN    HEAD   BY   EERTINA   B.   LEE,  TRENTON,   N.   J. 

bourg.  A  Negro  student  at  Harvard  University  this  year 
won  the  Rhodes  Scholarship  against  fifty-six  white  com 
petitors. 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  347 

Pka  Isaka  Seme,  a  pure  blooded  Zulu,  took  the  prize  in 
an  oratorical  contest  at  Columbia  University  in  1906.  J.  G. 
Groves,  the  Negro  "Potato  King"  of  to-day,  so-called  from 
his  having  grown  in  the  State  of  Kansas  72,150  bushels  of 
that  indispensable  article,  an  average  of  245  bushels  to  the 
acre,  is  a  full-blooded  Negro.  He  is  one  of  the  coming  Negro 
millionaires,  and  was  born  of  Negro  parents  in  slavery.  He 
already  owns  five  farms.  Alfred  Smith,  the  "Cotton  King" 
of  Oklahoma,  is  another  typical  instance  of  Negro  ability. 
When  Sherman  marched  through  Georgia  he  was  following 
a  gray  mule  behind  a  plow.  After  he  gained  his  freedom  he 
emigrated  early  to  Oklahoma  and  took  up  a  "claim,"  and 
began  taking  premiums  for  the  best  cotton.  In  1900  he 
received  first  prize  at  the  World's  Fair  at  Paris.  Another 
millionaire  in  embryo. 

Deal  Jackson  is  another.  He  has  a  reputation  all  over 
Georgia.  He  has  for  the  past  ten  years  brought  the  first 
bale  of  cotton  to  market,  owns  two  thousand  acres,  employs 
one  hundred  men,  and  has  forty-six  mules  and  horses.  An 
other  Negro,  W.  H.  Johnson,  of  Virginia,  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  exporters  of  walnut  logs.  At  present  he  has  three 
properties.  He  also  is  making  a  fortune  rapidly.  Isaiah  T. 
Montgomery,  a  slave  until  emancipated  by  Lincoln,  was  of 
fered  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Mississippi  by  the  Yazoo  and 
Mississippi  Railroad  Company,  provided  he  succeeded  in 
founding  a  Negro  town,  as  white  people  could  not  live  there. 
He  succeeded,  and  now  at  the  head  of  a  colony  of  about 
two  thousand  people,  president  of  a  bank,  and  his  town  is 
attracting  attention.  He  is  no  ordinary  man,  having  been  the 
only  Negro  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention. 
(See  "World's  Work"  for  June.) 

These  and  other  examples  show  that,  like  other  races  that 


348  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

have  risen,  our  own  included,  the  Negro  is  capable  of  pro 
ducing  at  intervals  the  exceptional  man  who  stimulates  his 
fellows.  The  race  that  produces  leaders  is  safe  and  certain  to 
develop.  If  a  race  bring  forth  at  intervals  a  Wallace  and  a 
Bruce,  a  Knox  and  a  Buchanan,  a  Burns  and  a  Scott,  a  Hume 
and  an  Adam  Smith,  a  Carlyle  and  a  Mill,  a  Watt  and  a 
Nielson,  the  result  must  be  an  advanced  people.  Every 
leader  compels  a  following,  which  improves  his  race.  Even 
the  humbler  men  in  the  South  whom  I  have  mentioned  as 
developing  natural  resources,  and  making  money  in  so  doing, 
are  in  a  sense  also  leaders  among  their  people,  and  raise 
the  standard  of  life  in  greater  or  less  degree  of  those  about 
them. 

While  the  North  has  been  for  five  years,  and  is  still  en 
joying  the  longest  and  greatest  uninterrupted  period  of 
material  prosperity  ever  known,  and  has  had  several  shorter 
periods  of  similar  character  since  the  war,  the  South  has  only 
rallied  from  its  lethargy  within  the  past  few  years.  It  is  now 
partaking  of  the  boom,  and  prices  of  land,  city  lots,  and  all 
kinds  of  property  have  advanced;  a  scarcity  of  labor  exists, 
and  committees  are  being  formed  to  induce  organized  immi 
gration  from  Europe  to  Southern  ports.  Italian  colonies  are 
being  planted  in  various  localities. 

Wealth  is  often  under-rated  in  both  countries.  It  is  upon 
the  foundation  of  material  prosperity  that  the  South  is  now 
building  more  churches  and  school-houses,  industrial  and 
medical  colleges,  and  the  people  spending  more  upon  educa 
tion.  Without  this  new  wealth  there  would  be  less  surplus 
to  apply  to  the  higher  ends.  The  dress  of  the  people,  and 
the  homes  and  modes  of  life  are  changing  rapidly  for  the 
better  through  the  entire  South.  Philanthropists  laboring 
among  the  Negroes  concur  in  testifying  that  nothing  stirs 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE 


349 


their  ambition  and  drives  them  to  honest,  unremitting  labor, 
and  to  educate  themselves,  like  the  magical  touch  of  property, 
something  they  can  call  their  own.  It  may  be  doubted 
whether  there  be  any  guarantee  for  the  production  of  desira 
ble  citizens,  equal  to  the  possession  of  their  own  sweet  little 
homes.  A  man  thus  most  surely  gives  a  bond  to  fate,  and 
makes  assurance  of  good  citizenship  doubly  sure. 

Permit  me  to  give  you  a  few  figures  showing  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  South.  Before  the  war  there  was  not  a  yard 
of  cotton  cloth  manufactured  there.  Last  year  there  were 
added  794,034  spindles  and  9,871  looms  in  her  cotton  fac 
tories.  Most  surprising  fact  of  all,  there  were  more  yards  of 
cloth  woven  in  the  South  in  1906  than  in  the  North,  although 
production  in  the  North  also  slightly  increased.  This  manu 
facture,  hitherto  mostly  concentrated  in  the  New  England 
States,  is  being  rapidly  extended  in  the  South  where  the  cot 
ton  is  grown.  Now  that  labor  is  becoming  honorable  since 
slavery  died,  the  poor  whites  are  flocking  to  the  cotton  mills 
and  various  other  factories  now  being  established  and  prov 
ing  themselves  capable  operatives.  Testimony  has  just  been 
given  that  one-third  more  labor  is  required  in  the  cotton 
mills,  but  the  white  element,  partly  immigrants,  may  be  de 
pended  upon  soon  to  to  supply  this.  Last  year  there  were 
more  than  three  thousand  miles  of  railway  built  in  the  South 
ern  States,  and  eighty-four  million  tons  of  coal  mined.  The 
yearly  cotton  crop  exceeds  eleven  millions  of  bales.  In  1850 
it  was  only  two  and  a  quarter  millions.  It  must  be  steadily 
increased  to  meet  the  world's  needs.  In  short,  the  hitherto 
impoverished  South  is  sharing  the  unprecedented  boom  which 
has  prevailed  in  the  North  for  some  years.  The  question 
used  sometimes  to  be  asked  in  former  days,  What  could  be 
done  with  the  Negro?  The  question  to-day  is,  How  more 


350  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

of  them  and  of  other  workers  can  be  obtained.  The  Negro 
has  become  of  immense  economic  value  and  is  indispensable 
where  he  is. 

Touching  the  good  qualities  of  the  Negro,  he  has  much 
to  his  credit.  During  the  War  between  the  States  his  devo 
tion  to  good  masters  and  mistresses  was  touching.  They  were 
left  at  home  while  their  masters,  almost  to  a  man,  joined  the 
Southern  army.  It  was  the  exception  when  slaves  upon  an 
estate  were  cruelly  treated,  and  the  relations  between  white 
and  black  were  surprisingly  free  from  bitterness.  This  does 
not  mean  that  the  slaves  did  not  hail  Lincoln's  proclamation 
with  joy,  but  it  does  prove  that  as  a  class  the  American  Ne 
gro  is  of  happy  disposition,  placable,  affectionate,  singularly 
free  from  promptings  to  commit  secret  crimes,  most  grate 
ful  and  responsive  to  kindness.  There  is  nothing  of  the 
plotting  assassin  in  him. 

We  are  staggered  now  and  then  by  an  assault  of  some 
low  and  brutal  Negro  upon  a  white  woman.  Every  case  of 
this  kind  is  given  widest  publicity,  and  naturally  arouses  the 
strongest  passions.  Every  man  and  woman  in  the  neighbor 
hood  is  aroused  and  mad  for  instant  and  sweeping  punish 
ment.  Sometimes  there  are  officials  who  insist  upon  the 
wretch  being  imprisoned  and  duly  tried  months  hence,  but 
the  maddened  friends  of  the  outraged  victim  are  in  no  mood 
for  parleying  and  he  is  hung  instanter. 

"Judge"  Lynch  is  not  infrequently  accused  of  punishing 
the  innocent  and  lynching  for  other  causes  than  criminal  as 
sault — undue  haste  or  excessive  "efficiency"  is  his  fault.  The 
Chicago  Tribune,  which  has  kept  a  statistical  record  of  lynch- 
ings  since  1881,  says,  in  the  "Independent,"  September  29, 
1904:  "Whenever  a  Negro  is  lynched  for  criminal  assault 
the  Southern  newspapers,  and  sometimes  the  Northern,  will 


OP  THE  NEGRO  RACE  351 

headline  its  "story"  or  its  editorial  comment,  "Lynched  for 
the  usual  cause."  This  glaring  misstatement  is  unjust  to  the 
Negro  race.  Criminal  assault  is  not  the  "usual  cause."  As 
the  population  becomes  better  educated  these  brutal  attacks 


BY  EDNA  NIXON,  TRENTON,  N.  J. 

may  be  expected  to  cease.  They  are  steadily  decreasing.  In 
1885,  181  assaults  were  made;  1906,  only  seventy-two,  less 
than  half,  although  the  population  had  increased  one-third. 
It  is  stated  that  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  Kentucky  and  Mis- 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

souri,  which  have  large  Negro  populations,  there  are  neither 
rapes  nor  lynchings. 

It  is  this  crime  and  the  excessive  publicity  given  to  these 
impromptu  executions  that  create  the  false  impression  that 
the  Negro  as  a  class  is  lawless,  while  the  contrary  is  true. 

The  remaining  vital  Negro  political  question  is  that  of 
the  suffrage.  The  National  Constitution  provides  that  no 
State  shall  discriminate  on  account  of  color.  Many  of  the 
Southern  States  now  require  ability  to  read  and  write,  which 
applies  to  whites  as  well  as  blacks.  The  best  people,  both 
North  and  South,  approve  this  educational  test.  One  good 
effect  is  that  it  gives  illiterates,  both  white  and  black,  a  strong 
inducement  to  educate  themselves.  There  is  a  large  number 
of  blacks  who  are  able  to  meet  these  new  requirements  for 
voting.  *The  committee  of  twelve  gives  the  following  ad 
vice  to  these : 

"As  citizens  of  the  United  States  you  cannot  value  too 
highly  your  right  to  vote,  which  is  an  expression  of  your 
choice  of  the  officers  who  shall  be  placed  in  control  of  your 
nearest  and  dearest  interests. 

"You  are  urged  to  pay  all  of  your  taxes  at  the  required  time, 
especially  your  poll  tax,  which  is  by  the  Constitution  of  every 
Southern  State  made  a  special  fund  for  the  support  of  the 
free  public  schools. 

"You  are  also  admonished  against  the  commission  of  any 
crime,  great  or  small,  as  the  conviction  of  almost  any  crime 
will  deprive  you  of  your  right  to  vote,  and  put  upon  you 
lasting  shame  and  disgrace. 

"It  is  especially  urged  that  as  voters  you  should  seek  to  be 
on  friendly  terms  with  your  white  neighbors  in  the  communi 
ties  in  which  you  live,  so  that  you  may  consult  with  them 
about  your  common  interests ;  and  that  you  should  ally  your- 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  353 

selves  with  the  best  people  in  your  community  for  the  general 
good.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  race,  and  it 
cannot  be  urged  too  strongly  upon  your  attention,  that  noth 
ing  should  influence  your  vote  except  a  desire  to  serve  the 
best  interests  of  the  country  and  of  your  State." 

One  cannot  fail  to  sympathize  with  the  educated  element 
in  communities  mostly  composed  of  illiterates,  who  out  vote 
the  intelligent.  A  few  illiterates  in  an  electoral  district  of 
the  North,  or  here  in  Britain,  matters  little,  but  where  these 
are  in  the  majority  it  is  an  entirely  different  matter.  The  solu 
tion  of  the  suffrage  question  lies  through  this  educational 
test.  When  Negroes  generally  are  able  to  meet  this,  we  may 
assume  that  their  entrance  into  political  life  in  due  course 
will  not  be  keenly  resented.  As  Confucius  long  since  told 
us — "There  being  education,  there  can  be  no  distinction  of 
classes." 

Booker  Washington  contends  that  good  moral  character 
and  industrial  efficiency,  resulting  in  ownership  of  property, 
are  the  pressing  needs  and  the  sure  and  speedy  path  to 
recognition  and  enfranchisement.  A  few  able  Negroes  are 
disposed  to  press  for  the  free  and  unrestricted  vote  immedi 
ately.  Wre  cannot  but  hope  that  the  wiser  policy  will  prevail. 

You  may  be  wondering  how  this  transformation  from 
slave  to  citizen,  so  far  as  it  has  gone,  has  been  accomplished. 

The  education  of  the  Negro  began  in  earnest  through  the 
Freedmen's  Bureau,  established  by  act  of  Congress  in  1865, 
a  few  years  after  the  war.  General  Howard,  who  was  placed 
in  command,  proved  most  successful,  head  and  heart  being 
interested  in  the  cause.  At  the  end  of  five  years,  when  it  was 
thought  no  longer  necessary  because  of  the  general  interest 
awakened,  its  record  showed  that  4,239  schools  for  colored 
pupils  had  been  established  in  the  South,  with  9,307  teachers 


354  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

and  247,333  pupils,  the  bureau  having  taught  nearly  one  mil 
lion  black  children  to  read  and  write;  the  cost  to  the  General 
Government  had  been  six  and  a  half  million  dollars. 

Upon  the  scene  now  appeared  one  of  those  rare  leaders 
who  seem  designed  for  new  and  difficult  tasks  impossible 
for  ordinary  men — nothing  short  of  an  original  holds  the 
key.  Such  a  man  was  revealed  in  a  young  enthusiast  who, 
born  of  an  American  missionary  family  in  Hawaii,  became 
General  Armstrong.  Shortly  after  he  graduated  at  Williams 
College  in  Massachusetts,  came  Lincoln's  call  for  volunteers 
to  save  the  Union.  To  this  young  Armstrong  promptly  re 
sponded.  He  put  up  a  tent  in  the  public  park  at  Troy,  and 
asked  for  recruits  to  form  a  company,  who  soon  came  to  the 
bright,  young  would-be  captain,  and  off  he  went  to  the  front 
at  their  head.  He  writes  to  his  mother — "The  first  day  of 
January  is  at  hand  when  the  slaves  shall  be  free ;  then  I 
shall  know  that  I  am  contending  for  freedom  and  for  the 
oppressed.  I  shall  then  be  willing  and  less  grieved  if  I  fall 
for  such  a  cause."  Here  we  have  the  spirit  of  the  Crusader. 
He  soon  distinguished  himself,  and  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Major.  Though  his  command  had  hitherto  been  over 
white  troops,  at  his  request  he  was  made  Colonel  of  one  of 
the  first  Negro  regiments,  and  here  his  genius  had  scope. 
He  wrote  his  mother  upon  taking  command — 'The  star  of 
Africa  is  rising.  Her  millions  now  for  the  first  time  catch 
glimpse  of  a  glorious  dawn,  and  their  future,  in  my  opinion, 
rests  largely  upon  the  success  of  the  Negro  troops  in  this 
war.  Their  honor  and  glory  will  insure  the  freedom  of  their 
race."  The  regiment  soon  made  a  mark  for  itself.  One 
officer  reported  that  "Armstrong's  soldiers  felt  toward  him  a 
regard  that  amounted  almost  to  deification."  He  was  soon 
made  a  general.  When  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  was  created 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  355 

at  the  close  of  the  war,  General  Howard  gave  command  of 
the  Virginia  District  to  Armstrong,  who  finally  determined 
to  devote  his  life  to  the  elevation  of  the  Negro  race.  He 
wrote  to  his  mother — "Till  now  my  future  has  been  blind." 
He  soon  decided  to  establish  a  pioneer  school  to  teach  both 
sexes  "manual  labor  as  a  moral  force,"  and  Hampton  In 
stitute  appeared.  Under  the  slave  regime,  manual  labor  had 
been  held  as  fit  only  for  slaves,  and  naturally  the  enfranchised 
Negroes  looked  upon  idleness  as  the  only  real  reward  of  life. 
They  had  now  to  learn  that  useful  labor  was  the  duty  of  man 
and  his  title  to  honor.  Armstrong  succeeded  in  interesting 
a  number  of  excellent  people  in  the  North,  and,  after  over 
coming  innumerable  obstacles,  he  finally  triumphed.  He  had 
rare  power  of  attracting  others  and  enthusing  them  with  his 
own  desire  to  labor  for  the  Negro.  Many  New  England 
teachers,  especially  women,  went  to  Hampton  and  led  lives 
of  devotion  to  the  holy  cause  of  uplifting  the  former  slave. 
No  less  than  fifteen  million  of  dollars  (three  millions  stg.) 
have  been  contributed  by  Northern  people  for  this  purpose. 

Among  General  Armstrong's  private  papers  after  his  death 
this  paragraph  was  found,  giving  what  he  "would  wish  known 
were  he  suddenly  to  die." 

"In  the  school  the  great  thing  is  not  to  quarrel,  and  to 
get  rid  of  workers  whose  temperaments  are  unfortunate  no 
matter  how  much  knowledge  or  culture  they  may  have. 
Cantankerousness  is  worse  than  heterodoxy." 

He  wished  to  be  buried  in  the  college  graveyard  among 
his  colored  students,  "where  one  of  them  would  have  been 
had  he  died  next.  No  monument  or  fuss  whatever  over  my 
grave.  I  wish  the  simplest  funeral  service  without  sermon  or 
attempt  at  oratory." 

Booker   Washington,   who   was    a   pupil   under   him   and 


356 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


enjoyed  his  friendship  through  life,  says  he  was  "the  noblest, 
rarest  human  being  that  it  has  ever  been  my  privilege  to  meet. 
I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  I  never  met  any  great  man  who 
in  my  estimation  was  his  equal.  The  first  time  I  went  into 


BY  ANNA  M'NORTON,  YORKTOWN,  VA. 

his  presence  as  a  student,  he  made  the  impression  upon  me 
as  being  a  perfect  man,  and  I  felt  there  was  something  about 
him  superhuman,  and  until  he  died  the  more  I  saw  of  him  the 
greater  he  grew." 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  357 

He  is  not  alone  in  this  estimate.  Many  who  knew  Arm 
strong  endorse  it.  His  life  recently  published  reveals  him 
to  us.  So  far  as  we  can  judge,  no  nobler,  more  useful,  or 
more  self-sacrificing  life  was  ever  lived.  I  think  his  life  would 
interest  you  deeply. 

The  students  of  Hampton,  of  both  sexes,  were  first  taught 
how  to  take  care  of  their  bodies  and  how  to  conduct  them 
selves.  A  high  standard  of  cleanliness  and  neatness  was 
established  and  rigidly  enforced.  Then  came  instruction  in 
some  craft,  the  women  being  taught  domestic  duties.  The 
making  of  useful  salable  articles  was  the  aim,  and  from  these 
came  the  funds  needed  to  pay  a  large  part  of  the  cost  of 
education.  All  work  was  paid  for. 

Hampton  traces  twenty-five  educational  institutions  as  its 
outgrowths.  Between  six  and  seven  thousand  of  her  gradu 
ates  and  ex-students  are  scattered  throughout  the  South  teach 
ing  in  various  branches,  305  in  business  or  clerical  work,  and 
176  graduates  pursuing  higher  courses.  The  high  standard 
General  Armstrong  introduced  is  fully  sustained  by  his 
worthy,  self-sacrificing  successor,  Mr.  Frissell,  a  Scottish 
Fraser,  and  his  invaluable  wife,  equally  devoted  to  the  cause. 

Josiah  King,  of  Pittsburg,  as  trustee  of  the  fund  of  another 
citizen,  Mr.  Avery,  who  left  his  fortune  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Negro  race,  gave  the  needed  financial  assistance  which 
enabled  General  Armstrong  to  carry  out  his  project  of  found 
ing  Hampton.  I  rejoice  that  Pittsburg  money  found  a  mis 
sion  so  noble,  and  that  I  knew  in  my  boyhood  both  testator 
and  trustee.  Strange  to  say.  the  small  farm  of  159  acres, 
bought  for  the  Hampton  Institute,  bore  the  captivating  name 
of  "Little  Scotland."  Somewhere  not  far  away,  there,  no 
doubt,  rests  one  unknown  to  fame,  of  whom  it  can  be  said, 
"A  kindly  Scot  lies  here," 


358  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Among  the  Hampton  graduates  the  most  distinguished 
is  Booker  Washington,  the  founder  of  Tuskegee  Institute, 
Alabama,  which  I  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  last  year  for 
several  days  upon  its  quarter  centenary.  I  was  never  more 
deeply  impressed.  I  saw  the  students  of  both  sexes  being 
taught  the  various  occupations.  Applicants  must  pass  ex 
amination.  The  women  are  first  shown  their  rooms  and 
instructed  for  a  few  days  how  scrupulously  careful  they  must 
be  to  keep  everything  in  perfect  order,  and  in  the  perform 
ance  of  daily  duties.  Extreme  attention  is  paid  to  personal 
habits,  dress  and  deportment.  Daily  bathing  and  gymnastic 
exercises  are  enforced.  Each  attends  to  her  own  room,  and 
is  taught  cooking,  baking,  dressmaking,  sewing  and.  gen 
erally  speaking,  all  that  becomes  a  young  educated  woman. 
The  young  men  are  governed  with  equal  care.  The  result  is 
an  assembly  of  students,  as  at  Hampton,  that  compare  not 
unfavorably  with  white  students  in  our  Northern  universities. 

I  was  escorted  through  the  Industrial  Schools,  where  all 
the  crafts  are  taught.  Asking  one  who  was  learning  to  be 
a  tinsmith  how  long  he  had  been  there,  he  replied,  "Three 
years,  sir."  "How  long  have  you  yet  to  serve?"  "Two 
more,  sir."  "You  will  soon  be  making  your  four  dollars  per 
day."  "I  expect  to  make  more  than  that,  sir,"  was  the  proud 
reply.  The  best  tinsmiths  make  five  dollars  (i  *s  lod)  per 
day.  He  was  ambitious,  and  expected  to  be  first-class. 

Asking  the  superintendent  if  places  could  be  found  for 
all  graduates  in  the  crafts,  he  said  that  he  had  five  applicants 
for  every  graduate  he  could  supply.  Coachbuilders,  masons, 
bricklayers,  tinsmiths,  blacksmiths  and  shoemakers  are  all 
there,  soon  to  be  earning  wrages  very  much  higher  than  in 
Scotland.  Plenty  of  work  for  them,  for  the  Tuskegee  and 
Hampton  graduation  certificate  means  not  only  a  competent 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  359 

mechanic,  seamstress  or  cook,  but  a  self-respecting  man  or 
woman.  There  is  no  objection  to  Negroes  being  craftsmen 
throughout  the  South  because  under  slavery  the  clever  slaves 
did  the  larger  part  of  such  work,  white  craftsmen  being  few. 
Manual  labor  was  only  for  slaves.  Poor  whites  were  above 
that  degradation.  They  were  poor,  but  gentlemen — at  least 
they  were  white. 

A  traveling  agricultural  school,  consisting  of  a  large  cov 
ered  wagon,  attracted  my  attention.  Such  wagons  travel  the 
region,  giving  Negroes  needed  lessons.  Here  were  displayed 
large  photographic  specimens  of  the  cotton  plant  and  of 
maize,  grown  upon  soils  plowed  to  different  depths.  The  ad 
vantages  of  deep  plowing  were  so  clearly  shown  that  the  most 
inert  farmer  could  not  rest  plowing  as  shallow  as  before.  I 
was  told  that  such  lessons  were  promptly  taken  to  heart,  and 
that  the  old  cry  "thirty  acres  and  a  mule"  as  the  height  of 
the  Negro's  ambition  is  now  ''thirty  acres  and  two  mules," 
so  that  "plow  deep"  can  be  put  in  practice.  Tuskegee  takes 
deep  interest  in  agriculture,  and  is  rapidly  raising  standards, 
through  its  experimental  farm.  Its  students  make  great  num 
bers  of  all  kinds  of  agricultural  implements  and  wagons.  It 
is  by  these  and  kindred  wise  adaptations  that  Tuskegee  has 
become  a  great  educational  force  in  many  forms  outside  as 
inside  her  domain.  Numerous  are  her  off-shoots  throughout 
the  South — a  fruitful  brood. 

Tuskegee  has  developed  upon  lines  different  from  Hamp 
ton  in  one  important  feature.  Here  all  is  the  work  of  Ne 
groes,  the  principal  and  professors,  and  even  the  architects 
are  colored.  Hampton  employs  white  professors,  and  has 
a  white  man  in  charge.  The  total  number  of  scholars  at 
Tuskegee,  including  classes  outside,  was  last  year  1,948,  1,621 
being  students  regularly  enrolled,  All  but  about  one  hun- 


360  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

dred  of  the  regular  students  board  and  sleep  in  the  grounds. 
Twenty-three  hundred  acres  of  land  surrounding  are  owned 
by  the  institute  and  cultivated  by  the  students,  part  being  an 
experimental  farm. 

The  endowment  fund  amounts  to  $1,263,000,  the  largest 
by  far  of  any  colored  institution.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Shaw,  a 
colored  woman  of  New  York,  has  just  left  all  her  money  to 
it,  $38,000,  the  largest  gift  ever  made  to  it  by  a  Negro. 
Thirty-seven  different  occupations  are  taught  in  the  "Schools 
of  Agriculture,"  "Mechanical  Industries"  and  "Industries  for , 
Girls" — each  of  these  three  departments  has  separate  build 
ings.  An  annual  Negro  conference  is  held,  and  Negrcf 
farmers  and  others  come  from  all  parts  of  the  South,  so 
famous  have  these  meetings  become.  Two  days'  sessions 
are  now  required,  one  for  farmers  and  one  for  teachers. 

The  choir  alone  is  worth  traveling  to  Tuskegee  to  hear. 
The  main  hall  is  large  and  vaulted,  the  stage  ample,  acoustics 
fine.  The  great  choir  of  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
students  sat  back  of  the  speakers,  who  occupied  the  front 
of  the  stage.  I  was  not  prepared  for  such  enchanting  strains 
as  burst  upon  us  from  unseen  singers.  The  music  was  sacred 
and  some  of  the  finest  gems  were  sung.  I  have  heard  many 
of  the  fine  choirs  of  the  world,  in  the  Crystal  Palace,  St. 
James's  Hall,  Rome,  Dresden,  Paris,  New  York,  and  else 
where  ;  seldom  do  I  miss  an  oratorio  if  I  can  help  it,  but  never 
in  my  life  did  choral  music  affect  me  as  at  Tuskegee.  Even 
the  Russian  choir  in  St.  Petersburg  I  must  rank  second.  The 
pure  Negro  voice  is  unique.  The  organ  fortunately  was  very 
small.  One  felt  there  was  some  ground  for  preferring  the 
human  voice  for  praise,  for  even  the  finest  organ  lacks  some 
thing  when  Negro  voices  swell. 

Booker  Washington  is  the  combined  Moses  and  Joshua 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  361 

of  his  people.  Not  only  has  he  led  them  to  the  promised 
land,  but  still  lives  to  teach  them  by  example  and  precept 
how  properly  to  enjoy  it.  He  is  one  of  these  extraordinary 
men  who  rise  at  rare  intervals  and  work  miracles.  Born  a 
slave,  he  is  to-day  the  acknowledged  leader  of  his  race — a 
modest,  gentlemanly  man,  of  pure,  simple  life  and  engaging 
qualities,  supremely  wise,  an  orator,  organizer  and  admin 
istrator  combined.  Considering  what  he  was  and  what  he 
is,  and  what  he  has  already  accomplished,  the  point  he  started 
from  and  the  commanding  position  attained,  he  certainly  is 
one  of  the  most  wonderful  men  living  or  who  has  ever  lived. 
History  is  to  tell  of  two  Washingtons,  the  white  and  the 
black,  one  the  father  of  his  country,  the  other  the  leader 
of  his  race.  I  commend  to  you  his  autobiography,  "Up 
from  Slavery,"  as  companion  to  'The  Life  of  General  Arm 
strong." 

"There  were  giants  in  those  days,"  we  are  apt  to  exclaim, 
and  lament  their  absence  in  our  own  age,  but  this  arises 
from  our  failure  to  recognize  the  gigantic  proportions  of 
some  of  our  contemporaries.  To-day  is  a  king  in  disguise, 
Carlyle  tells  us.  Hence  our  kings  pass  unnoticed  until  viewed 
in  their  proper  perspective  by  one  who  has  the  gift  to  see 
and  reveal  the  true  heroes  to  the  masses.  Future  ages  are  to 
recognize  our  contemporary,  Booker  Washington,  the  slave, 
as  a  giant,  distinguishing  the  age  he  lived  in,  and  General 
Armstrong,  the  pioneer,  as  another  who  can  never  be  for 
gotten  in  the  history  of  the  Negro  race.  He  will  grow  as  he 
recedes.  These  men  of  our  day  are  hereafter  to  be  canonized 
as  true  heroes  of  civilization,  whose  life-work  was  neither  to 
kill  nor  maim,  but  to  serve  or  save  their  fellows. 

In  the  task  of  elevating  the  Negro,  the  part  played  by  the 
Northern  people,  from  the  inception  of  the  Hampton  School 


362  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

idea  to  the  present  day,  has  been  great.  Not  only  have  many 
millions  of  dollars  been  contributed,  but  many  earnest  men 
have  given,  and  are  still  giving  their  personal  services,  giv 
ing  not  money  only,  but  themselves,  to  the  cause.  Among 
these  there  is  one  who  deserves  special  recognition,  Robert 
C.  Ogden,  of  New  York,  than  whom  none  was  closer  to 
General  Armstrong  from  first  to  last,  and  who  still  serves 
as  chairman  of  the  Southern  Education  Board.  It  is  only  just 
that  the  North  should  co-operate  with  the  South  in  the  great 
task,  for  it  is  equally  responsible  for  slavery. 

Lest  you  separate,  holding  the  view  that  there  remains  little 
more  to  be  accomplished  in  the  Negro  problem,  let  me  say 
that  all  that  has  been  done,  encouraging  as  it  undoubtedly  is, 
yet  is  trifling  compared  with  what  remains  to  be  done. 

The  advanced  few  are  only  the  leaders  of  the  vast  multitude 
that  are  still  to  be  stimulated  to  move  forward.  Nor  are 
the  leaders  themselves,  with  certain  exceptions,  all  that  it  is 
hoped  they  are  yet  to  become. 

When  you  are  told  of  the  number  owning  land  or  attend 
ing  schools,  or  of  the  millions  of  church  members,  and  the 
amount  of  wealth  and  of  land  possessed  by  the  Negro,  pray 
remember  that  they  number  ten  millions,  scattered  over  an 
area  nearly  half  as  great  as  Europe. 

The  bright  spots  have  brought  to  your  notice,  but  these 
are  only  small  points  surrounded  by  great  areas  of  darkness. 
True,  the  stars  are  shining  in  the  sky  through  the  darkness, 
but  the  sun,  spreading  light  over  all,  has  not  yet  arisen,  al 
though  there  are  not  wanting  convincing  proofs  that  her 
morning  beams  begin  to  gild  the  mountain  tops. 

All  the  signs  are  encouraging,  never  so  much  so  as  to 
day.  One  is  quite  justified  in  being  sanguine  that  the  result 
is  to  be  a  respectable,  educated,  intelligent  race  of  colored 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  363 

citizens,  increasing  in  numbers,  possessed  of  all  civil  rights, 
and  who  in  return  will  by  honest  labor  remain  notably  the 
chief  factor  in  giving  the  world  among  other  things  its 
indispensable  supply  of  cotton  and,  to  no  inconsiderable  ex 
tent,  of  the  products  of  cotton,  while  individual  members, 
gifted  beyond  the  mass,  will  worthily  fill  places  in  all  the  pro 
fessions.  Nor  will  the  race  fail  to  be  distinguished  from  time 
to  time  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  by  the  advent  of  great 
men,  fit  successors  of  .Frederick  Douglas  and  Booker  Wash 
ington. 

It  was  inevitable  in  the  changes  that  have  been  going  on 
in  the  South  since  emancipation  that  the  new  generation  of 
white  men  and  black  men  should  not  have  for  each  the  same 
intimate  and  friendly  feeling  of  the  older  generation  who  had 
known  each  other  as  master  and  slave.  Much  has  been  said 
of  the  estrangement  between  the  races  that  has  arisen  since 
the  war.  But  it  is  often  overlooked  that  in  recent  years  there 
has  been  growing  quietly  a  closer  and  more  cordial  relation 
ship  between  the  better  classes  of  both  races.  It  began  with 
the  attempt  of  some  of  the  best  colored  people  and  some 
of  the  best  white  people  combining  to  prevent  the  crime  of 
lynching  which  a  few  years  ago  seemed  to  be  increasing 
throughout  the  South.  From  that  time  prominent  white 
men  have  begun  to  take  a  moral  active  interest  in  the  progress 
of  the  Negro  in  his  schools  and  in  his  churches.  Men  like 
ex-Governor  Northern,  of  Atlanta ;  Belton  Gilreath,  of  Birm 
ingham ;  W.  A.  Blair,  of  Winston-Salem,  and  many  others 
throughout  the  South  are  doing  a  great  service  to  the  coun 
try  in  bringing  about  co-operation  between  the  races,  and 
emphasizing  the  fact  that  the  success  of  the  white  race  is 
intimately  bound  up  with  the  moral  and  material  welfare 
of  the  black. 


364  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

Quarrels  arise  at  times  between  white  and  black  as  among 
white  men  and  among  blacks,  but  these  are  isolated  cases. 
It  goes  without  saying  that  the  general  condition  is  one  of 
peace  between  the  races,  otherwise  the  former  slaves  could 
never  have  been  allowed  to  become  landlords  to  the  number 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  thousand  in  1900,  and  in  con 
stantly  increasing  numbers  ever  since. 

The  Republic  has  its  problems — formerly  so — without  new 
problems  there  would  be  stagnation;  but,  as  in  the  past,  so 
in  the  future,  she  will  surmount  all  that  new  exist  and  any 
that  may  come.  Our  race  has  never  failed  so  far.  One  of 
the  most  serious  of  the  problems  of  the  Republic  in  this  gen 
eration  has  been  that  of  the  Negro,  now,  as  I  hope  I  have 
shown,  slowly  but  surely  marching  to  satisfactory  solution. 

What  is  to  be  the  final  result  of  the  white  and  black  races 
living  together  in  centuries  to  come  need  not  concern  us. 
Problems  have  a  surprising  way  of  settling  themselves,  which 
should  teach  our  anxious  element  a  lesson.  Forty-odd  years 
ago  the  Negro  problem  was  "what  to  do  with  them?" 
To-day  it  is  how  we  can  get  more  of  them ;  there  being  a 
shortage  of  labor  in  the  South.  That  they  will  henceforth 
dwell  in  peace,  co-operating  more  and  more  as  patriotic  citi 
zens  of  the  Republic,  is,  I  believe,  already  assured.  I  believe 
also  that  the  Negro  is  to  continue  to  ascend  morally,  educa 
tionally  and  financially.  I  am  quite  resigned  to  our  own  and 
the  Negro  races  occupying  the  South  together,  confident  that 
as  time  passes  the  two  will  view  each  other  with  increasing 
regard,  and  more  and  more  realize  that,  destined  as  they  are 
to  dwell  together,  it  is  advantageous  for  both  that  they  live 
in  harmony  as  good  neighbors  and  labor  for  the  best  inter 
ests  of  their  common  country. 

Meanwhile,   my  personal  experience  of  the  South,  small 


Of^THE  NEGRO  RACE  365 

as  it  is  compared  with  that  of  many  Northern  men  who  have 
been  from  the  first,  and  still  are,  leaders  in  the  work  of  ele 
vating  the  Negro,  leads  me  to  endorse  the  opinion  of  one  of 
the  best-known  and  foremost  of  these,  the  Rev.  Lyman  Ab 
bot,  editor  of  the  "Outlook,"  who  has  recently  declared  that 
"never  in  the  history  of  man  has  a  race  made  such  educa 
tional  and  material  progress  in  forty  years  as  the  American 
Negro." 

STATISTICS   OF  THE   RACE. 
AREA  AND  POPULATION  OF  THE  WORLD. 

Area    of    the    World  No.    of 

in    Square    Miles.  Inhabitants. 

Asia    14,710,000  851,000,000 

Africa    1 1,514000  130,000,000 

North  America  6,446,000  89,250,000 

South  America   6,837,000  36,420,000 

Australia    3,288,000  4,730,000 

NUMBER  OF  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  WORLD  BY  RACES. 

Causcasian     545,000,000 

Mongolian    630,000,000 

Negro    225,000,000 

Malay     35,000,000 

Indian    .  15,000,000 


366 


INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 


Population  of  the  United  States  by  Sex,  General  Nativity  and  Color- 
1890  and  1900. 


SEX,  GENERAL 

NATIVITY- 

AND  COLOR 


AGGREGATE 


PER  CENT.  OF 

TOTAL 
POPULATION 


INCREASE  FROM 

1890  TO  1900 


1900 


1890 


1900 


1890 


Number 


Per 
Ceut. 


Total  population..    76,303,387  j  03,069,756          100.0     !       100.0     ;  13,233,631       21.0 


Males. 

39  059  242 

32  315  063 

Females  
Native  born  
Foreign  born  
White  
Colored*  
Native  white  
Native  parents  
Foreign  parents,  .  . 
Foreign  white  

37,244,145 
65,843,302 
10,460,085 
66,990,802 
9,312,f;85 
56,740,739 
41,053,417 
15,  (587.322 
10  250  063 

30,754,693  i 
53,761,665 
9,308,091  j 
55,166,184  i 
7,903,572  1 
46,030,105  1 
34,514,450  : 
11,515,655  i 
9,136  079 

Negrot  
Chinese  
Japanese  
Indians 

8,440,789 
119,050 
85,986 
266  760 

7,488,788 
126,778  ! 
14,399 
273  607 

51.2  i    51.2 

6,774,179  :  20.9 

48.8  i    48.8 

6,489,452 

21.1 

86.3 

85.2 

12,081,637 

22.5 

13.7 

14.8 

1,151,994 

12.4 

87.8 

87.5 

11,824,C18 

21.4 

12.2 

12  5 

1,409,013 

17.8 

74.4 

73.0 

10,710,634 

23.3 

53.8 

54.7 

6,538,967 

18.9 

20.6 

18.3 

4,171,667 

36.2 

15.4 

14.5 

1,113,984 

12.3 

11.6 

11.9 

1,3*72,001 

18.1 

0.2 

0.2 

$  7,728 

J  6.1 

0.1 

(I) 

71,587 

497.2 

0.3 

0.4 

$  6,847 

$  2.5 

*  Persons  of  Negro  descent,  Chinese,  Japanese,  and  Indians. 

t  Includes  all  pesons  of  Negro  descent. 

%  Decrease. 

§  Less  than  one-tenth  of  one  per  cent. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 


In  the  first  fourteen  chapters  of  this  work  will  be  found  illustrations 
representing  the  progress  of  the  Negro  beginning  with  his  landing 
into  this  country.  These  are  cuts  of  the  historic  tableaux  prepared  by 
Miss  Meta  Vaux  Warrick,  of  Philadelphia,  and  exhibited  in  the 
Negro  Building  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition.  The  figures  are 
moulded  out  of  clay  and  illustrated  clearly  the  various  steps  in  the 
progress  of  the  Negro. 

Scattered  throughout  the  book  can  be  seen  illustrations  of  exhibits  in 
the  Negro  Building,  which  merited  special  comment  by  the  public,  and 
were  granted  medals  by  the  Jamestown  Exposition  Company. 

THE  AUTHORS. 


OF  THE  NE&RO  RACE  367 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Giles  B.  Jackson  and  D.  Webster  Davis,  authors 4 

Our    Ancestors    Entering    Africa 16 

Landing   of    First   Twenty    Slaves    at    Jamestown 26 

Defending  Master's  Home  in  War  between  the  States 31 

Scene  on  a  Slave  Plantation 34 

A   Fugitive   Slave 38 

Response  to  the  Call  to  Arms 66 

Organizing  a  Church  in  a  Blacksmith  Shop 69 

An    After    Church    Scene 74 

The  Beginning  of   Negro   Education 77 

Freedman's  First  Cabin 79 

Hampton   School  Exhibit 81 

Commencement    Day 85 

Contractors  and  Builders 89 

The    Savings    Bank 94 

On  His  Own  Farm 98 

Improved    Home    Life 106 

Chart  Showing  Work  of  G.  F.  U.  O.  T.  R 109 

Stone   Carving   by   Negroes    of    Illinois 123 

W.  I.  Johnson,  President  N.  D.  &  Exposition  Co 137 

Giles  B.  Jackson,  Director-General  N.  D.  &  Exposition  Co 141 

Richmond  Office  of  Negro  Development  and  Exposition  Co 147 

Accepted   Design  of  Negro  Building 162 

Alcorn    College    Exhibit 165 

Operating  Room,  Negro  Emergency  Hospital  at  the  Exposition. .   168 

North   View   of   the    Negro   Building 171 

Corner  Entrance  of  Negro   Building 173 

Eastern  Door  of  Negro  Building 176 

Exhibit  of  Savings  Bank,  Grand  Fountain  U.  O.  T.  R 180 

Rear  Door  of  Negro  Building 184 

Advisory  Board   of  Jury   of   Awards 188 

Entrance  to  North  Carolina  Exhibit 191 

North    Carolina    Exhibit 194 

Cotton  Planter,  by  A.  C.  Taylor,  Charleston,  S.  C 197 


368  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY 

PAGE 

Electric  Railway  Switch 200 

Miniature  Railway 202 

Hand  Painted  China,  by  Frances  Spencer  Dorkins 205 

Fancy  Work,  by  Students  of  Wilberforce  College 208 

Fancy  Work,  by  Mrs.  Eliza  Williams 210 

Exhibit  of  St.  Paul  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  Lawrence- 

ville,  Virginia 212 

A.  &  M.  College  Exhibit,  Greensboro,  North  Carolina 214 

Hand  Painted  China,  by  Frances  Spencer  Dorkins 216 

Front  Entrance  of  Negro  Building 218 

Gathering  on  Negro  Masonic  Day 220 

Newspaper  Exhibit 222 

Exhibits  of  Corn,  Wheat  and  Oats 224 

Animals  Formed  Out  of  Grain 22G,  228,  230 

Exhibit  of  Tugaloo  University 232 

Washington,  D.  C.,  School  Exhibit 234 

Guards  in  the  Negro  Building 236 

Outside  Decorations  of  Washington  School  Exhibit 238 

Music  Exhibit 240 

Fancy  Work,  by  Mrs.  Marcelia  Mickens 242 

Oil  Painting,  by  J.  R.  Thompson 244 

Oil  Painting,  by  R.  E.  Bell 246 

Paintings,  by  T.  W.  Hunster 248 

Section  of  Fine  Arts  Department 250 

Exhibit  of  St.  Emma  I.  &  A.  School 252 

Exhibit  of  West  Virginia  Colored  Institute 254 

Georgia  State  Industrial  College  Exhibits 256 

Norfolk  Mission  College  Exhibit 258 

Souvenir  Counter 260 

R.  H.  N.  I.  School  Exhibit,  Eatonville,  Florida 262 

Howard  University  Exhibit 264 

Wagon  Made  By  Hampton  Students ; 266 

A.  &  N.  University,  Langston,  Oklahoma 268 

Hartshorn  Memorial  College,  and  Virginia  Union  University 

Exhibit  270 

Auditorium  of  Negro  Building 272 

Auditorium  of  Negro  Building 274 


OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE  369 

PAGE 

Public  Schools  of  Portsmouth,  Ohio 276 

Exhibits  from  City  of  Baltimore 278 

Public  School  Exhibit  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana 280 

Public  School  Exhibit  of  East  St.  Louis,  Missouri 282 

Cotton  Chopper 284 

A  Group  of  Inventions 286 

Fancy  Work,  by  Mrs.  Virginia  Scott 288 

Incubator  and  Bread  Raiser 290 

Rev.  John  Jasper 292 

Public  Schools  of  Lynchburg 294 

Miniature  Dwelling  Made  By  Students  of  Portsmouth  Public 

Schools  296 

Exhibit  of  Portsmouth  Public  Schools 298 

Exhibit  of  Saint  Emma  Industrial  School 300 

Public  School  Exhibit  of  Xenia,  Ohio 302 

Exhibit  of  Public  Schools,  Lynchburg,  Virginia 304 

Exhibits  of  Public  Industrial  School,  Salem,  Maryland 306 

Exhibits  of  Public  Schools  of  Camden,  New  Jersey 308 

Exhibit  of  St.  Emma  I.  &  A.  School 310 

Fancy  Work 312,  319 

Exhibits  of  Curry  Normal  and  Industrial  School,  Urbana,  Ohio. .  321 

Public  Schools  of  Topeka,  Kansas 323 

Exhibit  of  Claremont  Institute 325 

Jewelry,  by  J.  T.  Dooley 327 

Samples  of  Work,  by  L.  H.  Pierce,  of  Lansing,  Michigan 329 

Pyrography,  by  C.  Arthur  Lewis,  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois 331 

Miniature  Dwelling,  by  James  DeSheilds,  Wilmington,  Del....  333 

Buffett,  by  Walter  S.  Ebb,  Baltimore,  Maryland 335 

Painting  on  Velvet,  by  Geraldine  Maidbark,  Ouray,  Colorado..  337 

Boat  Propeller,  by  S.  C.  Crawford,  Baltimore,  Maryland 339 

China  Painting,  by  Mrs.  Fanny  Clinkscale,  Topeka,  Kansas, 

and  Mrs.  Addie  Byrd,  Columbus,  Ohio 341 

Madonna,  by  Bertina  B.  Lee,  Trenton,  New  Jersey 343 

Grecian  Head,  by  Bertina  B.  Lee,  Trenton,  New  Jersey 346 

Fancy  Work,  by  Miss  Edna  Nixon 351 

Fancy  Work,  by  Anna  McNorton,  Yorktown,  Virginia 356 


14  DAY  USE 

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LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


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